Automated Drilling-Fluids-Measurement Technique Improves Fluid Control, Quality
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: December 2021

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 204041, “Automatic Drilling-Fluids Monitoring,” by Knut Taugbøl, SPE, Equinor, and Bengt Sola and Matthew Forshaw, SPE, Baker Hughes, et al., prepared for the 2021 SPE/IADC International Drilling Conference and Exhibition, originally scheduled to be held in Stavanger, 9–11 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The complete paper presents new units for automatic drilling-fluids measurements with emphasis on offshore drilling applications. The surveillance of fluid properties and the use of data in an onshore operations center is discussed. The authors present experiences from use of these data in enabling real-time hydraulic measurements and models for automatic drilling control and explain how these advances can improve safety in drilling operations and drilling efficiency.

Introduction

An operator has worked with different suppliers for several years to find and develop technology for automatic measurements of drilling-fluid properties. In the described study, methods for measuring parameters such as viscosity, fluid loss control, pH, electrical stability, particle-size distribution, and cuttings morphology and mineralogy were all fitted into a flow loop in an onshore test center. These tests, however, were all performed with prototype equipment. Since then, work has continued to optimize equipment for offshore installations, made for operating in harsh environments and requiring limited maintenance to provide continuous and reliable data quality.

The fluid-measuring technique presented in this paper is based on rheology measurement through a pipe rheometer and density measurements through a Coriolis meter. This rheometer measures at ambient temperature. Dual DP is the terminology that refers to pressure measurements between two differential pressure sensors. The dual-DP pipe rheometer is set up with high-accuracy pressure transducers to measure pressure loss inside the straight section of the pipe rheometer. By varying the flow rate through pipes of different dimensions, a rheology profile at varying shear rates can be calculated.

Field Implementation Installation of a unit begins with a rig survey conducted in concert with the drilling contractor to find the best location and sampling point. Fluid normally is taken from the charge manifold for the mud pumps, ensuring measurement of the fluid going into the well.

The first installation in the North Sea of an automatic fluid-monitoring (AFM) unit was in 2017. This unit is still operational, sending data to an onshore support center. Fig. 1 shows such a unit installed offshore. The AFM unit has only one movable part, the monopump supplying drilling fluid through the unit.

Once the dual-DP rheometer was factory-acceptance-tested in the yard, it was sent offshore to be commissioned and verified on a fixed installation in the North Sea. The related data presented in the complete paper were acquired in the field while drilling the 355-m, 8½-in. section with 1.35-SG low-equivalent-circulating-density oil-based drilling fluid, with drilling conducted at approximately 4000 m measured depth. The mud engineer onboard was requested to perform rheology checks on a viscometer at equal ambient temperature to the AFM so that the results could be compared; the AFM also measures rheology at ambient temperature.