Mud Technique in Iran

Abstract

The technique of handling drilling muds varies somewhat, partly because of personal factors but mainly because of differences in formation, the type ofproblems, and the general drilling conditions in different localities. The much greater depths to which bore holes are now carried have made necessarycloser attention to and great modifications of all aspects of drilling-mudtechnique. Increased depth means smaller hole, smaller drill pipe, smallerclearances, higher pumping pressures, higher differential pressures betweenshows and the mud column, less accurate control of the weight of the mudcolumn, delayed receipt of formation data, and poorer samples. It means longerdelays and greater hazards in rectifying mistakes or dealing with accidentaloccurrences. Equipment on a larger scale is necessary and more pains must betaken with layout. Lastly, the budget costs of raw materials have risen to highfigures and economy of time and of direct monetary expenditure have come tomean much more than formerly. A mud laboratory is now part of the essential establishment of a modern oilfield and to it current problems can be submitted for the most thoroughinvestigation. The detailed chemical properties of all materials purchased orquarried have to be investigated. Detailed data on the physical properties haveto be ascertained and research on improvement of material and its mostefficient use has to be carried out. In this paper will be discussed the main mud problems of Iran, some of whichare peculiar to local conditions while others are of the general type common toall workers in this subject. T.P. 1005