Assessing the corrosivity of drilling mud on well casings

Abstract

Purpose

Casing completion is an extremely important part of the process of drilling and completing an oil well. This paper aims to focus on measuring corrosivity caused by drilling mud on casing materials using a simple method.

Design/methodology/approach

In this experimental study a simple method is used to determine the effect of drilling mud on the two widely used casing string materials in the oil industry, carbon steel and J‐55 alloy. The drilling mud was formulated using Saudi local clay deposits, where mud viscosity at different clay concentration was measured to show the effect of clay content on mud apparent viscosity, and select the best formulation. The average weight loss of each type of steel was measured to show the corrosion rates, caused by a drilling mud formulated using collected clay samples. Viscosity measurements are shown.

Findings

Corrosion in dynamic tests is higher than in static tests, and the Saudi clay muds were less corrosive on J‐55 alloy than on carbon steel.

Originality/value

The assessment method is a simple and fast way to predict maximum and minimum corrosion while drilling.

Citation

Almisned, O. (2008), "Assessing the corrosivity of drilling mud on well casings", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 55 No. 5, pp. 278-282. https://doi.org/10.1108/00035590810903872