Laboratory

Technical features and capabilities

The laboratory is fully mobile and could be dispatched to any project requiring the specialized testing of the drilling or completion fluids. The lab is capable of doing the following tests:

• Standard API drilling fluid check

• Corrosion rate monitoring

• Polymer and fluid testing under high temperatures

• H2S content monitoring

• Shale Hydration and Dispersion

• Test for proper inhibitor selection

• Differential Sticking Test

• Brine clarity testing

List of equipment and it functions

1. Standard Drilling Fluid Testing Package

• 6 Speed Rheometer

• Heating cup

• Thermometers

• Marsh Funnels

• Mud Balance

• Pressurized Mud Balance

• HPHT Filter Press with all accessories and CO2 Pressure unit

• API Filter Press with all accessories and CO2 Pressure unit

• Sand content kit

• Retort kit (10 ml or 50 ml)

• Mixer

• Triple beam balance

• Hot plate

• Chemical analyses kit

• pH meter (portable and stationary)

• pH Strips

• Misc. equipment and accessories: pipettes, graduated cylinders, syringes,

2. Corrosion Test Cell

• The Corrosion Test Cell is designed for testing fluids at temperatures up to 500°F (260°C) and pressures to 2,500 psig (17,237 kPa).The lightweight, compact cell includes a built-in coupon holder and pressurization valve. The cell is constructed of 303 Stainless Steel and has a total volume of 500 ml.

3. Hot Roll Oven

• Roller Ovens provide an excellent method of aging fluid samples for further analysis. High-Temperature Aging Cells containing sample fluids are placed in the roller oven where they are subjected to moderate heat and agitation (rolling) on power driven rollers. Samples may also be heated without rolling (static aging).

• Drilling fluid aging is the process in which a drilling fluid sample, previously subjected to a period of shear, is allowed to more fully develop its rheological and filtration properties. The time period needed to more fully develop properties varies from as little as several hours (usually 16 hours) to as much as several days. Aging is done under conditions which vary from static to dynamic and from ambient to highly elevated temperatures

4. H2S Content Test

• The Garrett Gas Train is the most widely used portable instrument for the determination of soluble sulfides and carbonate concentrations in drilling fluid.

5. The Model 440 Capillary Suction Timer (CST)

• The CST test measures the hydrating and dispersion properties of shales by simulating the shear and chemical forces present during drilling. For the CST test, the shale-solids content and mixing time are held constant, while the chemical characteristics such as pH and salinity are varied.

• CST test results show the inhibitive effects of various salts and their concentrations on the dispersion of a shale. Results can be graphed to show the CST value in time versus test fluid type.

• The CST value is an indication of cake permeability. Highly dispersed particles give low cake permeability and high CST values. Flocculated particles give high cake permeability and low CST values. The CST value depends on solids type and content of the slurry, degree of mixing, pH, and salinity, deflocculant of dispersant type and concentration, polymer type and concentration.

6. Linear Swell Meter LSM 2100

• The Fann Linear Swell Meter (LSM) is an instrument that engineers and scientists use to study and test shale stability reactivity.

• The LSM 2100 includes an automatic four-head measuring system, compactor, and software. Its maximum operating temperature is 180oF (82oC). LSM tests measure shale hydration or dehydration of reconstituted or intact shale core exposed to drilling fluid. The LSM software plots a graph of the percentage of swelling versus swelling time (minutes).

• Another test that is often used in conjunction with the LSM test is the Capilllary Suction Time (CST) test, which is also used to study shale reactivity. Both tests yield results that engineers rely on to design mud systems that minimize drilling risks and costs associated with shale

7. Differential Sticking Testing

• The Differential Sticking Tester was designed to determine how likely a given drilling fluid will be to produce a "stuck pipe" situation and how effective a given drilling fluid treatment or application of spotting fluid in any given drilling fluid would be in reducing this tendency. This measurement is called the "Stuck Tendency Coefficient". It takes into account both the stickiness and the cake building capability of the drilling fluid. The "Stuck Tendency Coefficient" is determined by the Timed Filtrate Test.

8. Brine Clarity Testing (Portable Turbiditimeter DRT 15CE)

• Designed to provide the rugged portability needed in the field with the accuracy demanded in the laboratory, the EPA accepted DRT-15CE has become a “must have” for anyone monitoring turbidity on the go. The integral carrying case holds everything needed for field operation. With resolution of 0.01 NTU and an extended range to 1,000 NTU, the DRT-15CE is a perfect fit for both field and laboratory use.