Mud Lab

Advanced Drilling Fluid Testing

Precision in Every Drop, Performance in Every Well

At Exral, our state-of-the-art Mud Lab delivers accurate, real-time analysis of drilling fluids to ensure optimal performance in diverse well conditions. From water-based and oil-based muds to specialized formulations, our lab supports innovation, quality control, and field-ready fluid solutions tailored to the oil and gas industry.

Water-Based Drilling Fluid Test Procedures

Our Water-Based Mud (WBM) analysis covers a comprehensive set of testing protocols to ensure drilling efficiency, wellbore stability, and environmental compliance. The following key parameters are regularly evaluated in our mud lab:

Mud Weight – Determines the hydrostatic pressure required to control subsurface formations.
Viscosity & Gel Strength – Assesses the fluid’s flow behavior and suspension ability.
API Low-Temp/Low-Pressure Test – Measures fluid loss under standard API conditions.
High-Temp/High-Pressure (HTHP) – Simulates downhole conditions to assess fluid loss.
Sand Content – Evaluates abrasiveness and potential equipment wear.
Retort Test (Water, Oil, and Solids Content) – Determines fluid composition accurately.
Methylene Blue Capacity – Indicates reactive clay content.
pH – Measures acidity/alkalinity critical to chemical stability.
Alkalinity and Lime Content – Helps manage corrosion and contamination risks.
Chloride Ion Content – Indicates formation water or contamination presence.
Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium – Monitors salinity and scale-forming ions.
Potassium Content (STPB & Sodium Perchlorate Methods) – Tracks inhibition properties.
Resistivity – Analyzes electrical properties for fluid monitoring and formation interaction.

Oil-Based Drilling Fluid Test Procedures

Oil-based mud (OBM) systems require specialized testing to ensure optimal performance, stability, and safety in high-pressure and high-temperature drilling environments. Below are key test procedures:

Mud Weight (Density) – Measures hydrostatic pressure to ensure well control and balanced formation pressures.
Alternate Drilling Fluid Density – Provides backup fluid density measurement using alternative calibrated methods.
Viscosity and Gel Strength – Evaluates flow behavior, suspension capacity, and hole-cleaning ability under dynamic/static conditions.
API Low-Temp/Low-Pressure Test – Assesses fluid loss at standard conditions, critical for filtration control.
High-Temp/High-Pressure Test (HTHP) – Simulates extreme downhole conditions to evaluate thermal stability and filtration.

Electrical Stability – Indicates emulsion quality and oil-water phase separation resistance.
Water, Oil, and Solids Contents (Retort) – Determines the exact fluid composition for performance monitoring and formulation adjustments.
Fluid Alkalinity – Tracks acid-neutralizing ability, crucial for controlling pH and corrosion risk.
Fluid Chloride – Identifies contamination from formation water or improper additives.
Fluid Calcium – Detects calcium ion concentration, indicating possible scale or contamination.

Completion / Workover Fluid Test Procedures

Specialized fluids used during well completion and workover operations must meet critical quality standards to ensure formation integrity, prevent damage, and maintain well productivity. Key test parameters include:

Density – Ensures correct hydrostatic pressure to avoid formation damage or influx.
Crystallization Temperature – Determines the lowest temperature at which salt crystals begin to form, crucial for cold environment performance.
Iron Contamination – Identifies and controls iron levels to prevent corrosion and formation damage.
pH – Maintains fluid compatibility with formation and tubulars; essential for chemical stability.
Brine Clarity Evaluates transparency to assess particulate contamination that may plug the formation.
Solids Evaluation (API) Measures the presence and size of solids to prevent plugging and damage during fluid circulation or injection.

Specialized Testing and Procedures

Advanced laboratory tests designed to evaluate drilling fluid performance, formation compatibility, and operational efficiency under challenging wellbore conditions.

HPHT Fluid Rheology – Analyzes fluid viscosity under High Pressure High Temperature conditions to ensure flow consistency and stability.
Permeability Plugging Test – Measures fluid’s sealing ability to prevent filtrate invasion into permeable formations.
Return Permeability Test – Assesses formation damage potential by evaluating regained permeability after fluid invasion.
Linear Swell Meter Testing – Evaluates shale swelling tendencies when exposed to drilling fluids, aiding in inhibition analysis.
– Determines filtration and dewatering characteristics of drilling muds.

Shale Recovery & Erosion Tests – Measures shale stability and resistance to erosion in fluid environments.
Slake Durability – Assesses shale breakdown under cyclic wetting and drying to determine formation durability.
Lubricity Test – Evaluates torque reduction and fluid lubricating properties during drilling operations.
Particle Size Distribution – Determines solid size spread in drilling fluid, critical for filtration control and hole cleaning.
The Dynamic High Angle Settling Test – Measures how well solids settle in inclined environments, vital for directional drilling operations.

Mud Lab

Advanced Drilling Fluid Testing

Precision in Every Drop, Performance in Every Well

Water-Based Drilling Fluid Test Procedures

Oil-Based Drilling Fluid Test Procedures

Completion / Workover Fluid Test Procedures

Specialized Testing and Procedures

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