Section

3a

wbm testing procedures

2) Pour the suspension through the clean, dry mesh screen, being careful
to remove all solids out of the tube by flushing with base fluid back
through the same mesh screen. By tapping the side of the screen the
pouring of the mud through the screen may be facilitated.
3) Wash the sand retained on the screen with water to remove any remaining
mud
4) Fit the funnel upside down over the top of the sieve, invert slowly turning
the tip of the funnel into the mouth of the tube and wash the sand back
into the tube with some clean water. Allow the sand to settle.
5) Record the quantity of sand settled in the graduated tube as the sand
sized content of the mud in percent by volume.

calculations
Allow the sand to settle. From the graduations on the tube, read and report
the percent by volume of sand size drilled solids (see interpretation below).

interpretation
Some interpretation of the result will need to be made based on the
differential settling speeds of the different materials present. The reported
result should be that proportion of the settled particles that are attributable to
drilled solids. These would be the particles that settle out first and are usually
followed by calcium carbonates, other types of LCM and undissolved black
powders. The differing particles aggregate, therefore, in clearly identifiable
strata and, depending what was being added to the active system at any given
time, the apparent sand content can appear much higher than it actually is.
The sand content is not really of any significance with respect to overall mud
properties but is of importance when it comes to wear on mud pump parts
etc. 2% is normally accepted as the upper limit.
Generally speaking the sand content is also useful to gauge the effectiveness
of the shaker screen sizes being employed. If the sand content rises quickly
then this is an indication that finer mesh screens need to be tried. A rapid
increase in sand content over a short period can also indicate that the shaker
screens are torn and need immediate replacing.

pH
discussion
Field measurement of drilling fluid (or filtrate) pH and adjustments to the pH
are fundamental to controlling water-based drilling fluid properties.
pH expresses acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution. An acid can be
defined as a substance which dissociates in aqueous solution to give hydrogen
[H+] ions, whilst a base or alkali gives [OH-] ions. The term pH denotes the
negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion, [H+], activity in aqueous solutions
(activity and concentration are equal only in dilute solutions).
The pH of a water based mud is controlled to improve the performance of
mud additives, to minimise pipe corrosion and to reduce the solubility of
claystones.
A balance is struck between these factors when choosing a pH for any
particular system.
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