A

TECHNICAL REPORT ON ONE (1) MONTH

STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME

(SIWES)

PERFORMED AT

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri Imo state

BY

EHIEMERE CHIBUZOR LILIAN

20151013343

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING (PET)

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (SEET)

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, P.M.B. 1526, OWERRI, IMO

STATE

IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR IN

TECHNOLOGY (B. Eng.) IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

FEBUARY, 2019
 DEDICATION
This report is dedicated foremost to God Almighty for his favour, mercy and grace upon my life from
the beginning to this very point.
I also appreciate my parents, for their immense support towards making my Student Industrial Work
Experience Scheme (SIWES) training a good and successful one.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My appreciation goes to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) for putting up this program in place and
also to the Petroleum Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO),
for providing a platform on which I was engaged on the training.

I am grateful to the Head of department of the petroleum engineering department for providing
me with such an opportunity to be exposed to world class engineering professionals and services in
the Oil & Gas industry.
To the laboratory technicians and the software instructor, I want to say Thank you in the various
ways in which you have assisted me. I am deeply indebted to God Almighty; without whom I would
have achieved nothing at all.
 REPORT OVERVIEW

The industrial work experience scheme is an essential component of the Federal University of
Technology Owerri (FUTO) and for all students under the School of Engineering and Engineering
Technology (SEET), from the level 200 to level 400.

The attachment period for students in 200, 300 & 400 level is usually a maximum of 12 or 24 weeks
during which the students are expected to acquire additional practical experience to supplement
their course of study in the university. This exposes them to real life work atmosphere and its
challenges which should help them towards their future careers.

This report is the outcome of twenty weeks practical training I received at the petroleum
engineering department, federal university of technology, Owerri, Imo state
 CHAPTER ONE

BRIEF HISTORY OF SIWES

1.1 INTRODUCTION
SIWES was established by ITF in the year by ITF in the year 1973 to serve the problem of lack of
adequate practical skills preparatory for employment in industries by Nigeria tertiary institutions
graduate. The scheme educates students on industrial based skills essential for a smooth transition
from the classroom to the world of work. Students of tertiary institutions is given the opportunity
of being familiarized and exposed to the needed experience in handling machinery and equipment
which are usually not available in the educational institutions. Partaking in SIWES industrial training
has become a crucial pre-condition for the award of degree and diploma certificates in specific
discipline in most institution of higher learning in Nigeria in line with the government education
policies. The scheme educates students on industrial based skills essential for a smooth transition
from the classroom to the world of work. The Operators are; the ITF, the coordinating agencies
(NUC, NCCE, NBTE), employers of labour and various institutions.

Funding- the federal government of Nigeria beneficiaries are undergraduate students of the
following disciplines: Natural sciences, Engineering and Technology, Education, Agriculture, Medical
science, Environmental and pure and applied sciences. Duration is four months and one year for
polytechnics, and six months for universities.

1.2 OBTECTIVE OF THE SCHEME

1. Provides avenues for students to acquire Industrial skills foe experience during their
course of study.
2. Expose student to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machineries
that may not be available in the University
3. Prepare students for industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation
4. Provide students with the opportunities to apply their educational knowledge in real work
situation, thereby bringing the gaps between theories for practice.
5. To make transmission from the schooling to world of work easier through enhancing student
contact for later job placement.
 CHAPTER TWO

CORE PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

In order to complete a core sample, drilling must be halted at the top of the subsurface of the
reservoir. The drillstring is removed from the wellbore, the drillbit removed and a rotary coring bit
is attached in its place. Similar to a drillbit, the rotary coring bit consists of solid metal with diamonds
or tungsten for cutting at the reservoir rock; but unlike a drill bit, a rotary coring bit has a hollow
center.

On a rotary coring bit, the cutting apparatus surrounds a hollow center, called the core barrel,
where the core sample is stored. This core barrel is made up of an inner and outer barrel separated
by ball bearings, which allow the inner barrel to remain stationary and retain the core sample while
the outer barrel is rotated by the drillstring and cuts the core.

The core catcher is located within the core barrel. The core catcher has finger-like apparatuses that
move the core sample farther into the barrel and keep it from falling back into the well.

After the core sample has been cut from the well, the drillstring is raised, and the rotary coring bit,
barrel and catcher are removed -- and the core sample is retrieved. The drillbit is reattached, and
drilling can commence again.

When performing coring operations, instead of having the pieces of broken rock removed from the
well via drilling fluids, the rock is kept intact and raised to the surface for study. Because coring
requires the suspension of drilling, the process is quite expensive and usually only performed at the
reservoir interval.

2.1 CORE PRODUCTION

Due to the unavailability of cores directly gotten from the reservoir, artificial cores has to be
produced to serve as a model to the actual cores gotten from the reservoirs. These cores were
produced using sandstone, cement and water. The core production processes took several stages,
beginning with making available the sand and cement, washing and drying of the sands and other
processes of molding which will be explain with details in the next chapter.

2.2 TYPES OF CORE ANALYSIS

A number of generally accepted sampling and analytical techniques have been developed for
evaluating core samples. The choice of technique depends on the type of core recovered, its
lithology, and the nature of the pore system. Core analysis can be divided into several different
types: (1) conventional or plug analysis, (2) whole core analysis, and (3) sidewall core analysis.

Conventional or plug analysis

Continuous cores can be analyzed by conventional or whole core procedures, but conventional core
analysis is most frequently used. This procedure employs a small sample to represent an interval of
core and produces acceptable results when the pore system is relatively homogeneous.
Conventional core analysis plugs are usually collected once per foot or three to four times per
meter. Variations in pore system development or lithology require more frequent sampling. Sample
density should be adequate to define net pay, hydrocarbon-water transition zones, contact levels,
and formation boundaries. Sampling can be done statistically at the mid-point of each foot or the
most representative sample in each foot can be selected.

Whole core analysis

Whole core analysis examines the complete length of full-diameter core in the interval being tested
and affords the maximum possible sample size. Large samples are mandatory in heterogeneous
formations in which most of the porosity and permeability are due to fractures, solution vugs, or
erratically developed pore systems. In these cases, the volume of individual pore spaces may be
large in relation to the size of conventional core analysis plug samples. A variation of whole core
analysis, called full-diameter analysis, utilizes selected lengths of a core rather than the entire core.

Sidewall core analysis

Sidewall core analysis is performed on cores recovered by any of the sidewall coring techniques.

Percussion sidewall cores from hard, well-cemented formations are badly altered during the coring
process and generally fail to produce suitable measurements of mechanical and petrophysical
properties. Sample alteration may be reduced through the use of sidewall boring or a hydraulic
press to collect sidewall core samples.

Sidewall coring and analysis produce acceptable results when suitable formations, such as the soft
Miocene and Oligocene sandstones found in Gulf Coast and California reservoirs, are sampled in
adequate detail. Data quality in wells where only sidewall cores are available can be improved by
developing correlations between conventional and sidewall core values. This requires that
conventional cores and sidewall cores be collected from the same interval in selected wells.

2.3 EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM CORE PRODUCTION

APPARATUS/MATERIALS USED

 Electric weighing balance

 Sieve shaker
 Weighing plate
 5cm Diameter Pipes
 Sandstone
 Cement
 Mixing plate
 Water
 Mixing spoon
 Meter rule
 Saw
 Masking tape
 Mixing bowl

USES OF APPARATUS

ELECTRIC WEIGHING BALANCE – Used to weigh the right proportion of sand and cement before
mixing
SIEVE SHAKER- Used for the sieving and separation of the sand into different grain sizes of 0.1mm,
0.25mm, 0.4mm, 0.63mm, 0.8mm, 1.6mm, and 2mm.

WEIGHING PLATE - Used in putting the sand/cement before being placed on the weighing balance
for weighing

1.75cm PIPES - Serves as mold to the cores

METRE RULE - Used in measuring the pipes to get the specified dimension

SANDSTONE - Used in molding the cores

CEMENT – Serves as a binder to the molded cores

SAW – Used in cutting the pipes

MASKING TAPE – Used in labelling the cut pipes

MIXING BOWL – Used in mixing the sand, cement and water before moulding.

2.3.1 PROCESSES IN CORE PRODUCTION

 GETTING THE SAND – The sand was gotten from Otammiri River (A Local River in the
University
 WASHING AND DRYING OF THE SAND – The sand was washed and sundried for 2 days
 SIEVING AND SEPERATION OF THE SAND INTO DIFFERENT GRAIN SIZES- The sieve shaker
was used to sieve and separate the sand into different grain sizes. Grain sizes of 0.1mm,
0.25mmm, 0.4mm, 0.63mm, 0.8mm and 1.6mm. All the sand sieved was stored in a labelled
container specifying the grain sizes for easier identification.
 CUTTING OF PIPES - A 1.75 Diameter pipe was cut into a length of 5cm each. This was used
as mold for the produced cores
 WEIGHING AND RATIONING OF SAND AND CEMENTS - 3 Specified ratios of cement to
sand to water was given (cement and sand in grams and water in ml). The ratios are 2:6:1, 2:8:1
and 2:10:1, that implies 2g of cement, 6g of sand and 1ml of water; 2g of cement, 8g of sand and
1m of water; 2g of cement, 10g of sand and 1ml of water. The weighing balance was used to
weigh different grain sizes of the sand and cement to ensure they were in the rightful proportion
and a beaker/cylinder was used to measure the water.
 MIXING PROCESS- A mixing bowl was used to mix the sand, cement and water vigorously
to get a good mixture. During this process, the ratios were strictly adhered to, to ensure excess
water was not added to the mixture.
 MOLDING PROCESS- This involves gradually filling the mixture into the molds and then
ensuring that, they were all packed.
 DRYING OF CORES- After mixing and molding, the cores were allowed to dry for 3- 4 days
to ensure they were well dried and ready for testing.
2.3.2 POROSITY DETERMINATION

 DETERMINATION OF DRY WEIGHT OF CORES- The dry cores were weighed using a weighing
balance to determine the weight of the cores before saturation. The table below shows the grain
sizes and masses for different ratios

GRAIN SIZES MASS OF CORES(g)

2:6:1 2:8:1 2:10:1

0.10-0.25 21.52 23.02 20.27

0.25-0.40 24.93 22.63 20.64
 0.40-0.63 25.28 24.28 18.53
0.63-1.60 24.13 22.68 21.63
1.60-2.00 20.09 19.11 19.50

 DETERMINATION OF PORE VOLUME – To determine the pore volume, the cores were
saturated in a beaker with water for two days to ensure 100% saturation.
It was ensured the cores were tied with a labelled rope when immersed in the beaker for easy
identification.

After two days, the cores were removed from the beaker and the various cores were weighed to
determine the mass when saturated in water. Then

PORE VOLUME= MASS OF CORE AFTER SATURATION – MASS OF DRY CORES

DENSITY OF WATER

DENSITY OF WATER = I.0g/cm3

Results obtained are shown below

SAMPLE GRAIN SIZE RATIO WEIGHT WEIGHT OF WEIGHT PORE

OF DRY SATURATED DIFFERENCE, W VOLUME
CORE, Wd CORES, Ws
1 0.10-0.25 2:6:1 21.52 23.77 2.25 2.25
2 0.10-0.25 2:8:1 23.02 25.23 2.21 2.21
3 0.10-0.25 2:10:1 20.27 23.30 3.03 3.03
4 0.25-0.40 2:6:1 24.93 26.01 1.08 1.08
5 0.25-0.40 2:8:1 22.63 25.10 2.47 2.47
6 0.25-0.40 2:10:1 20.64 24.06 3.42 3.42
7 0.40-0.63 2:6:1 25.28 26.46 1.18 1.18
8 0.40-0.63 2:8:1 24.28 26.08 1.80 1.80
9 0.40-0.63 2:10:1 18.58 22.27 3.69 3.69
10 0.63-1.60 2:6:1 24.13 25.52 1.39 1.39
11 0.63-1.60 2:8:1 22.68 24.21 1.53 1.53
 12 0.63-1.60 2:10:1 21.63 24.82 3.19 3.19
13 1.60-2.00 2:6:1 20.09 21.73 1.64 1.64
14 1.60-2.00 2:8:1 19.11 21.63 2.52 2.52
15 1.60-2.00 2:10:1 19.50 22.83 3.33 3.33

2.3.3 DETERMINATION OF BULK VOLUME

Archimedes principle was applied in determining the bulk volume.

PROCEDURES FOLLOWED

 The saturated core was weighed and the weight in air was recorded
 The beaker with water was weighed and recorded
 The saturated core was immersed in the beaker with water and the beaker with water and
core was weighed and recorded
 The difference in weight of the saturated core in water and in air was recorded
 This difference was divided by the density of water to obtain the bulk volume
 The process was repeated for cores with different ratios and grain sizes.

2.3.4 POROSITY CALCULATION

After obtaining the pore volume and bulk volume, porosity is calculated using the formula

POROSITY = BULK VOLUME – PORE VOLUME X 100

BULK VOLUME

All results are tabulated below

S/N GRAIN SIZE RATIO WEIGHT OF WEIGHT OF BULK PORE POROSITY

SATURATED SATURATED VOLUME VOUME
CORES IN CORES IN
AIR,Ws BEAKER,Wb
1 0.1-0.25 2:6:1 23.77 11.97 -
2 0.1-0.25 2:8:1 25.23 12.51
3 0.1-0.25 2:10:1 23.30 11.68
4 0.25-0.40 2:6:1 26.01 12.52
5 0.25-0.40 2:8:1 25.10 12.41
6 0.25-0.40 2:10:1 24.06 12.37
7 0.40-0.63 2:6:1 26.46 12.70
8 0.40-0.63 2:8:1 26.08 13.16
10 0.40-0.63 2:10:1 22.27 11.65
11 0.63-1.60 2:6:1 25.52 12.21
12 0.63-1.60 2:8:1 24.21 12.00
13 0.63-1.60 2:10:1 24.82 12.20
14 1.60-2.00 2:6:1 21.73 10.54
15 1.60-2.00 2:8:1 21.63 10.46
16 1.60-2.00 2:10:1 22.83 10.43
 CHAPTER THREE

PROSPER SOFTWARE

3.1 PROSPER SOFTWARE TRAINING

Prosper is an advanced Production and Systems Performance analysis software. PROSPER can
help the production and reservoir engineer to predict the tubing and pipeline hydraulics and
temperatures with accuracy and speed. PROSPER can be confidently used to model the well in
different scenarios and to make forward predictions of reservoir pressure based on surface
production data. It also enables existing designs to be optimized and the effects of future changes
in system parameters to be assessed.

3.1.1 FEATURES OF PROSPER

 PROSPER is a fundamental element in the Integrated Production Model (IPM).

 Its PVT section which can generate fluid properties using standard correlations and allows
them to be modified to better fit measured lab data.
 Model reservoir inflow performance (IPR) for single, multilayer, or multilateral wells with
complex and highly deviated completions, optimizing all aspects of a completion design including
perforation details and gravel packing.
 To accurately predict both pressure and temperature profiles in producing wells and along
surface flow lines.
 Easily allow the engineer to model and optimizing tubing, choke and surface flow line
performance through sensitivity analysis.
 Be used to design, optimize and troubleshoot gas lifted, coiled tubing, ESP, PCP, HSP
(hydraulic pump), jet pumps, sucker rod pump equipped wells.
 The multiphase flow correlations implemented can be adjusted to match measured field
data to generate vertical lift performance curves (VLP) for use in simulators and network models.
 The tool can be used in a matching or predictive mode. Matching of real data is available in
the PVT, IPR, Gradient matching and VLP matching sections
3.1.2 PROPERTIES MODELLEDUSING PROSPER

• Fluid type

• Well flow configuration

• Artificial lift method

• Prediction type

• Temperature model

• Completion

• Reservoir type

PROSPER can help petroleum producers maximize their production earnings by providing the
means to critically analyze the performance of each producing well. Each well system component
that contributes to overall performance is separately modeled through Nodal analysis

3.1.3 BASIC PROSPER APPLICATION WINDOW;

The PROSPER main screen is divided into five (5) sections:

Options, PVT data, Equipment Data, IPR Data, Calculation summary

3.1.4 PROSPER START GUIDE

We shall begin with the naturally flowing well model.

The main objectives of the examples are to show;

• How to set up a PROSPER model for an oil well

• How to match the PVT model to lab data

• How to match the model to a well test.

• How to perform calculation of well performance, gradient traverse and vertical lift
performance curves.

• Gas lift design

3.1.5 MODEL SET-UP

• Begin by starting the program.

• From the PROSPER main menu, select File - New to reinitialize the program input and
output files.

 OPTIONS
• To begin setting up the system options, select Options; Options, or double click on the
SUMMARY DATA area and make the following selection.

Then click exit to leave the screen

3.1.6 PVT DATA

 The purpose of this section is to demonstrate how to enter the PVT model and to match
the PVT correlations to real PVT data by following the steps below;
 Enter PVT Black oil model; access the PVT section by selecting PVT Input data from the
menu toolbar. Then enter the examples of the parameters characterizing the Black Oil model
given by the table in the manual.
 Enter PVT match data; In the PVT main section, click Match data and enter the laboratory
PVT flash data given in the manual. Once entered the data, click Done to return to the main PVT
Data input screen.

• Match the PVT Black Oil correlations to the PVT match data entered and choose the best
correlations; To match the correlations to the laboratory measured data, from the main PVT input
data screen select Regression. Then select Match All to run the regression calculation.

Click OK when the correlation is finished.

To accessed the calculated match parameters, select parameters.

Parameter 1 = Multiplier (select the one close to 1)

Parameter 2 = Shift (select the one close to 0)

Standard Deviation = Represents the overall goodness of fit (the lower the better)

The flashing green message PVT is MATCHED shows that the PVT model has been matched. The
matched data can be plotted by clicking plot on the regression menu
3.1.7 EQUIPMENT DATA

 The next task is to define the downhole and surface equipment.

 Note that the equipment to specify in PROSPER is the one the fluid ‘sees’ from the bottom
hole up to the wellhead. In this case the equipment to be entered is from top to bottom.
 To enter the equipment data, select System Equipment from the main menu
 first screen displayed is the deviation survey.
 Once the deviation is entered, click on Done to go the surface equipment screen;
 . For this example, leave blank and click on cancel to go on the down hole equipment screen
 To select the equipment (tubing, casing, ssv, etc) click in the type field and select from the
drop-down menu.
 Click Done to advance to the Geothermal gradient screen and enter the following;

3.1.8 DEVIATION SURVEY & DOWNHOLE EQUIPMENT DATA

Formation Depth (ft) Formation Temp(oF)

0 60

2300 100

8000 130
 11400 240

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Use for:

Water/Oil wells = 8 BTU/h/ft2/F

Gas Condensate wells = 5 BTU/h/ft2/F

Gas Wells = 3 BTU/h/ft2/F

• Then click Done to go to the next screen, which report the average heat capacities.

• Click Done to accept the default value.

• This complete the equipment input for the well.

• It is possible to visualize the deviation and equipment entered by clicking on Summary.

• And then draw down hole equipment.

• This is a very useful tool to assess eventual mistyping.

• Click Main to return to the PROSPER main screen (status screen)

3.2 ARRANGEMENT OF DOWNHOLE EQUIPMENT

3.3 IPR DATA

• Select from the main menu System /Inflow performance

• The IPR input screen is then displayed.

• Select the Darcy IPR method and enter the example data from the manual in the IPR select
Model screen:

• Click on the input Data button in the right-hand corner of the window, then enter the
reservoir data in the manual:

• Then click on the Mech/Geom Skin tab and enter a skin of 4.

• Click Calculate to display the following IPR plot:

3.3.1 IPR DATA WINDOW
3.3.2 IPR PLOT

3.4 MATCHING THE MODEL TO A TEST

The matching process consist of two main steps;

 Matching of the VLP; the multiphase correlation will be tuned in order to match a
downhole pressure measurement.
 Matching of the IPR; The IPR will be tuned so that the intersection VLP/IPR will match the
production rate as per well test.
 In order to access this section, from the main menu toolbar select
Matching/Matching/VLP/IPR (Quality check) and enter the well test data.
 Select the test and then select Correlation Comparison.
 Then click on Calculate and Calculate again. To visualize the gradients and well test, click
on Plot.

3.4.1 WELL TEST ANALYSIS

Well Test matching is a process of reconciliation between a mathematical mode (Prosper well
models) and actual downhole measurements. The reconciliation process can only be successful if
the mathematical model and the actual measurements are both reliable.

The procedure can be broken down into the following steps:

 Review of the raw well test data

 Well test data entry in Prosper

 Estimate the overall heat transfer coefficient in the wellbore surroundings as

against the one entered in equipment data

 Perform a correlation comparison

 Select and match VLP correlation

 Quality check VLP matching

 Superimpose and match the well IPR curve

3.4.2 VLP/IPR MATCHING WINDOW

3.4.3. MATCHING THE CORRELATION TO THE TEST

To carry out a VLP match, in the VLP/IPR Matching screen select Match VLP

 In the display match screen select the correlation to match (in this case PE 2 and PE 5)
from the list and click on match.
 This completes the VLP matching.
 Click on Done/Done to go back to the VLP/IPR screen.

3.4.4 IPR MATCHING

 To run the IPR matching click on VLP/IPR

 In the following screen select the just matched correlation and click on Calculate.

 Click on the plot button to inspect in the plot the solution obtained and compare it to the
well test.

3.4.5 VLP MATCHING

3.4.6VLP/IPR MATCHING
 CHAPTER FOUR

DRILLING FLUID FORMULATION & TESTING

Drilling fluids are said to be the “blood” of drilling operations mainly because of the functions they
provide by the reason of their properties. It is essential that these properties be monitored to
(i)detect deterioration and identify need for treatment
(ii) to improve on drilling fluids design base on changing drilling conditions.
Frequent tests are carried out by the mud engineer for these purposes and all tests/measurements
are performed using standard procedures specified by API recommended practice. The tests can be
carried on the field or in the laboratory. The common tests are:

4.1 MUD DENSITY

It is important that the density of the drilling mud be known throughout most of the drilling
operation. Frequent density tests aid in preserving a safety factor by disclosing any changes taking
place in the unit weight of the mud. A MUD BALANCE provides a simple method for the accurate
determination of mud density. Its construction makes it ideal for both laboratory and field use, and
temperature does not affect the accuracy of readings.

Figure 1: Mud Balance

Test/measurement procedure;

Step 1 – Remove lid & fill cup to the top with sample to be tested. If air bubbles have been trapped
in the mud tap briskly until they breakout.

Step 2 – Replace lid and rotate until firmly seated, making sure some mud squeezes out the vent
hole
Step 3 – Wipe mud from exterior of balance

Step 4 – Place balance on base with knife edge on fulcrum rest.

Step 5 – Move rider until instrument is in balance as determined by spirit leve l.

Step 6 – Read mud weight & hydrostatic pressure or gradient at edge of rider nearest fulcrum.

Mud densities are usually reported to the nearest 0.1 ppg (Ibs per gallon). Other units in common
are Ibs/cuft, psi/ft, psi/1000ft, kg/l and specific gravity (S.G.).

4.2 MUD VISCOSITY

It is a measure of internal resistance of drilling mud to flow. Factors like hole size, hole condition,
pumping rate, drilling rate, cutting size, mud weight, design of pit system and gel characteristics
influence the specification of the viscosity of a given mud. The MARSH FUNNEL VISCOMETER is used
to make quick tests of drilling fluids and it is almost on every drilling rig, however, this device only
gives an indication of changes in viscosity and cannot be used to quantify the rheological properties
of mud such as the yield point or plastic viscosity unlike other devices like ROTARY VISCOMETER,
SHEAROMETER or RHEOMETER. This being that non-Newtonian fluids exhibit different viscosities at
different flow rates.
 Figure 2: Marsh funnel & graduated cup

Procedure for Marsh funnel viscometer;

Step 1 – Hold funnel in upright position with index finger over outlet

Step 2 – Pour the test sample freshly taken from the mud system through the screen on top of funnel
until mud level just reaches the underside of the screen.

Step 3 – Immediately remove finger from outlet tube and measure number of seconds for a quart
of the sample to run out.

Step 4 – Report funnel viscosity in seconds

Note that time of efflux for a quart of clean fresh water at 70 OF is 26 seconds.

The RHEOMETER, a rotational viscometer is used to quantify the rheological properties of drilling
mud. The assessment is made by shearing a sample of the mud at a series of prescribed rates and
measuring the shear stress on the fluid at these rates.
 Figure 3: Multi-rate viscometer (i.e. rheometer) Procedure for rheometer;
Step 1 – Suspend the plumb bob inside the cylinder

Step 2 – Immerse both the plumb bob & cylinder in a sample of drilling mud and start shearing

Step 3 Take the readings of the deflection of the plumb bob which is a measure of the viscosity of
drilling fluid at that shear rate.

Step 4 – Plot shear rate versus deflection

Step 5 – Calculate the following parameters from the graph; Plastic viscosity (µp ) = θ600 – θ300
(centipoise)
Yield point (τy) = θ300 - µp (Ib/100 sq.ft)

Note that θ600 & θ300 are deflections readings at 600 RPM & 300 RPM rotor speed of the rheometer.
Also, step 5 is only applicable to Bingham plastic (there is a linear relationship between shear stress
and shear rate. Plastic viscosity can be thought of as part of the flow resistance caused by
mechanical friction (i.e. solids content). Yield point is that component of resistance caused by
electrochemical attraction within the mud while it is flowing. The apparent viscosity is determined
by

θ600/2 = apparent viscosity (µa) in centipoise

For a true or Newtonian fluid characterized by a straight line flow curve that passes through the
origin, the apparent viscosity is equal to the plastic viscosity.
4.3 GEL STRENGTH OR MUD SHEAR

The gel strength of the drilling mud can be thought of as the strength of any internal structures
which are formed in the mud when it is static. The gel strength of the mud will provide an indication
of the pressure required to initiate flow after the mud has been static for some time. It also provide
an indication of the suspension properties of the mud hence its ability to suspend cuttings when the
mud is stationary. The gel strength can be measured with either a rheometer or rotary viscometer.
After the mud has remained static for sometime (10 secs) the rotor is set at a low speed (3 rpm) and
the deflection noted. This is reported as the initial or 10 sec. gel. The same procedure is repeated
after the mud remains static for 10 minutes, to determine the 10 minute gel. Both gels are measured
in the same units as yield point (Ib/100 sq.ft). The gel strength usually appears on the mud report
as two figures (e.g. 17/25). The first being the initial gel and the second the 10 minute gel.

4.4 FILTRATION

The filtration properties of drilling muds are a measure of the ability of the solid components of the
muds to form a thin, low-permeability filter cake. The lower the permeability, the thinner the filter
cake and the lower the volume of filtrate from muds of comparable solids concentration. This
property is dependent upon the amount and physical state of the colloidal material in the mud. The
filter cake building property of a mud can be measured using a FILTER PRESS.
 Figure 5: Filter press apparatus

During the test, the rate at which fluid from a mud sample is forced through a filter under specified
temperature & pressure is evaluated. Also, the thickness of the solid residue deposited on the filter
paper caused by the loss of fluid is measured. Note that this type of test does not accurately
simulate downhole conditions in that only static filtration is being measured. In the wellbore,
filtration is occurring under dynamic conditions with the mud flowing past the wall of the hole.

Procedure;

Step 1 – Assemble the filter press apparatus in the order according to the diagram. Secure the cell
to the base cap

Step 2 – Fill the cell with the sample to be tested. Set the unit in place in the filter press frame.
Step 3 – Check the top cap to make sure the gasket is in place. Place the top cap on the cell and
secure the unit in place with the T-screw

Step 4 – Place a dry graduated cylinder under the filtrate tube

Step 5 – With the regulator T-screw in its maximum outward position, open the valve to the cell.
Apply 100 psi pressure to the filter cell by rapidly screwing the T-screw into the regulator. Timing of
the test should begin now.

Step 6 – At the end of 30 minutes, close the valve to the cell rapidly and open the safety-bleeder
valve. This releases the pressure on the entire system. Return the regulator T-screw to its maximum
outward position.

Step 7 – Read the volume of filtrate collected in the graduated cylinder

Step 8 – Report the filtrate loss in ml as the API filtration loss of the mud. The filter cake thickness is
measured and reported as thirty-seconds of an inch

4.5 RESULT OBTAINED FROM THE FORMULATION

1. MUD WEIGHT

8.2 POUNDS PER GALLON

61.5 POUNDS PER CUBIC FEET
430 POUNDS PER SQUARE FEET PER 1000 FEETS
0.98 SPECIFIC GRAVITY

2. MARSH FUNNEL VISCOSITY

5.5 SECONDS PER QUART

3. RHEOLOGY

600 DIAL READING 57

300 DIAL READING 25

4. GEL STRENGTH

10 SECONDS 16
10 MINUTES 40

5.FILTRATE LOSS & WALL THICKNESS/CAKE BUILD

FILTRATE LOSS 2MILLILITERS

1
CAKE THICKNESS INCHES
36
 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

This report so far shows that the students’ industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) programme
is a gateway towards exposing the students to the industrial culture for which they are basically
being trained. The practical approach of the programme attests to this assertion. In this report, all
activities taken during my SIWES programme have been discussed.

4.2 SKILLS ACQUIRED

The following skills were acquired during the period of industrial attachment

 PROSPER software skill

 Drilling mud formulation skill
 Core production & analysis skill
4.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendation are general in scope and are intended for those companies and
organizations that have interest in student industrial training program

 The effectiveness of industrial training can be improved if Students are trained in line with
their course of study.
 For students to acquire skills during the period of industrial training, they should be placed
in a department that enables students to apply their knowledge.
 Companies should provide conducive and safe working environment for students
undergoing training
REFERENCES

Drilling mud technology, Lab Manual (PET 302)

Reservoir engineering, Lab Manual (PET 304)

PROSPER training manual, IPM