Laboratory Experiment No.

10
Salt Water Based Muds

Objective:
To evaluate the properties of salt water or saturated salt
muds.
Lab Procedure:
1. Prepare sufficient amount of mud specified in Part-1.
Use the following formula to calculate the final mud
density and the amounts of clay and water to mix.

weight % of clay weight % of water 100 %

+ =
ρclay ρwater ρmud

⎡ ⎤
⎢γ ⎥
mud − γ water ⎥
weight of clay = ⎢ ( gm per mL of water )
⎢ 1 − γ mud ⎥
⎢ γ clay ⎥⎦
⎣

2. Using mud balance measure mud density in ppg.

3. Measure plastic viscosity and apparent viscosity. Record
600 and 300 rpm readings.
4. Add the required amount of salt and repeat steps 2 and 3
above.
5. Dilute the mud from step 4 by adding water to adjust the
final density equal to the density measured in step 2.
Use the following mass and volume material balance
formulas to calculate the amount of water (ml) needed:

V i γ i +V w γ w = V f γ f

V i +V w = V f

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 If the final volume is not limited the water volume
in ml is given as function of initial mud volume [Vi
(ml)], density of initial mud density [γi (gm/cc)], final
mud density [γf (gm/cc)], and water density [γw (gm/cc)].

⎡ γ i −γ f ⎤
V w =V i ⎢ ⎥
γ
⎢⎣ f − γ w⎥
⎦
If the final volume is a large number, use 100 ml of
original mud to find volume of water needed. Use the
following equation to determine the amount of water
needed in ml to add to the 100 ml of original mud as:

⎡γi −γ f ⎤
Vw = 100⎢ ⎥
⎢ γ
⎣ f − γ w ⎥
⎦
And the volume of final mud with the addition of 100
ml of initial mud and required water is given as:

V f = 100 + Vw

6. Repeat step 2 and 3.

7. Prepare sufficient quantity of salt water mud specified
in Phase-2. Use equations given in step 1.
8. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
9. Clean and return all equipment to their proper places.
Graphs:
1. Plot plastic viscosity versus weight percent of clay for
each step (total of three curves on one graph.)
2. Plot apparent viscosity versus weight percent of clay
for each step (total of three curves on one graph.)
3. Plot yield point versus weight percent of clay for each
step (total of three curves on one graph.)
Questions:
1. How does salt affect drilling fluid properties?
2. Give at least two examples of formations with salt.

Data Sheets: Salt Water Based Muds

Experiment Date: Group: Sample:

50
 No. Clay Required Additives Measured Viscosity Measurements
Type Density Density

ppg Water Clay ppg θ600 θ300 θ3 @10sec θ3 @10min

cc gm

G1P1a

G1P1b
------ ------
G1P1c

G1P2a

G1P2b
------ ------
G1P2c

G2P1a

G2P1b
------ ------
G2P1c

G2P2a

G2P2b
------ ------
G2P2c

G3P1a

G3P1b
------ ------
G3P1c

G3P2a

G3P2b
------ ------
G3P2c

G4P1a

G4P1b
------ ------
G4P1c

G4P2a

G4P2b
------ ------
G4P2c

Salt Water Based Muds - Materials

Day One

Group 1: Phase-1 : a. 2% Aquagel + 98% water

51
 b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 2% Zeogel + 98% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 2: Phase-1 : a. 4% Aquagel + 96% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 4% Zeogel + 96% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 3: Phase-1 : a. 6% Aquagel + 94% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 6% Zeogel + 94% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 4: Phase-1 : a. 8% Aquagel + 92% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 8% Zeogel + 92% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

52
 Salt Water Based Muds - Materials

Day Two

Group 1: Phase-1 : a. 3% Aquagel + 97% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 3% Zeogel + 97% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 2: Phase-1 : a. 5% Aquagel + 95% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 5% Zeogel + 95% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 3: Phase-1 : a. 7% Aquagel + 93% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 7% Zeogel + 93% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

Group 4: Phase-1 : a. 9% Aquagel + 91% water

b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water
Phase-2 : a. 9% Zeogel + 91% Salt water (35,000 ppm)
b. 25 ppb Salt
c. Fresh water

53