Mud Gun

Mud Gun

Definition(s)

Mud Gun

Submerged nozzle used to stir drilling fluid with a high-velocity stream. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Mud Compartment

Mud Compartment

Definition(s)

Mud Compartment

Subdivision of the removal, addition or check/suction sections of a surface system. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Mud Cleaner

Mud Cleaner

Definition(s)

Mud Cleaner

Combination of hydrocyclones and screens in series with the underflow of the hydrocyclones. NOTE The hydrocyclone overflow returns to the drilling fluid, while the underflow of the hydrocyclones is processed through a vibrating screen. The screen is usually of size API 150 or finer. The screen solids discharge is discarded while the liquid and solids passing through the screen are returned to the drilling fluid. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Marsh Funnel Viscosity

Marsh Funnel Viscosity

Definition(s)

Marsh Funnel Viscosity (or Funnel Viscosity)

Viscosity measured with the instrument used to monitor drilling fluid. NOTE A Marsh funnel is a tapered container with a fixed orifice at the bottom so that, when filled with 1 500 cm3 of fresh water, 946 cm3 (one quart) will drain in 26 s. It is used for comparison values only and not to diagnose drilling fluid problems. See ISO 10414-1 (API RP 13B-1) and ISO 10414-2 (API RP 13B-2). Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Impeller

Impeller

Definition(s)

Impeller

Spinning disc in a centrifugal pump with protruding vanes used to accelerate the fluid in the pump casing. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Impeller

Rotating part of a centrifugal compressor/pump that imparts kinetic energy to a fluid. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global Standards
Hydrocyclone

Hydrocyclone

Definition(s)

Hydrocyclone (or Cone or Cyclone)

Liquid-solids separation device utilizing centrifugal force for settling. NOTE Fluid enters tangentially and spins inside the hydrocyclone. The heavier solids settle to the walls of the hydrocyclone and move downward until they are discharged at the hydrocyclone apex. The spinning fluid travels partway down the hydrocyclone and back up to exit out the top of the hydrocyclone through a vortex finder. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Hopper

Hopper

Definition(s)

Hopper (Mud Hopper)

Large funnel- or coned-shaped device into which dry components are poured to uniformly mix the components with liquids or slurries that are flowing through the lower part of the cone. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Hook Strip

Hook Strip

Definition(s)

Hook Strip

Hooks on the edge of a screen section of a shale shaker which accept the tension member for screen mounting. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
High Specific Gravity Solids

High Specific Gravity Solids

Definition(s)

High Specific Gravity Solids

Solids added to a drilling fluid specifically to increase drilling-fluid density. NOTE Barite (specific gravity = 4,2) and haematite (specific gravity = 5,05) are the most common. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Head

Head

Definition(s)

Head

Height that a fluid column would reach in an open-ended pipe if the pipe were attached to the point of interest. NOTE The head at the bottom of a 300 m (1 000 ft) well is 300 m (1 000 ft), but the pressure at that point depends upon the density of the drilling fluid in the well. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Head

Potential energy exerted by a column of liquid that has the ability to do work; expressed as the vertical height of the column. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global Standards  
Gumbo

Gumbo

Definition(s)

Gumbo

Cuttings that agglomerate and form a sticky mass as they are circulated up the wellbore. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Flow Rate

Flow Rate

Definition(s)

Flow Rate

Volume of liquid or slurry which moves through a pipe in one unit of time. NOTE It is expressed as cubic metres per minute, gallons per minute, barrels per minute, etc. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Flow Capacity

Flow Capacity

Definition(s)

Flow Capacity

Rate at which equipment, such as a shaker, can process drilling fluid and solids. NOTE It is a function of many variables, including shaker configuration, design and motion, drilling fluid rheology, solids loading, and blinding by near-size particles. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Equalizer

Equalizer

Definition(s)

Equalizer

Opening for flow between compartments in a surface fluid-holding system which allows all compartments to maintain the same fluid level. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Effluent

Effluent

Definition(s)

Effluent

Discharge of liquid, generally a stream, after some attempt at separation or purification has been made. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Educator

Educator

Definition(s)

Educator (Pressure Jet)

Device using a high velocity jet to create a low pressure region (Bernoulli Principle) which draws liquid or dry material to be blended with the drilling fluid. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Eductor

Eductor

Definition(s)

Eductor (Fluid Stream)

Device utilizing a fluid stream discharging under high pressure from a jet through an annular space to create a low pressure region. NOTE When properly arranged, it can evacuate degassed drilling fluid from a vacuum-type degasser or pull solids through a hopper. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Drilling Fluid

Drilling Fluid

Definition(s)

Drilling Fluid

Water or oil-based fluid that is circulated down the drill pipe into the well and back up the annulus to the rig for purposes including containment of formation pressure, the removal of cuttings, bit lubrication and cooling, treating the wall of the well, and acting as a media for the pulsed transmission of well and drilling data to surface.

Source: API Specification 16Q, Design, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, Second Edition, April 2017. Global Standards

Drilling Fluid

Any liquid or slurry pumped down the drill string and up the annulus of a hole during the drilling operation. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Drilling Fluid

A water or oil-based fluid circulated down the drillpipe into the well and back up to the rig for purposes including containment of formation pressure, the removal of cuttings, bit lubrication and cooling, treating the wall of the well and providing a source for well data. Source: API RP 16Q, Recommended Practice for Design, Selection, Operation and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, First Edition, November 1993 (Reaffirmed August 2001). Global Standards Source: ISO 13624-1:2009, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Drilling and production equipment – Part 1:Design and operation of marine drilling riser equipment. Global Standards  

Drilling Fluid

"Drilling fluid" means any fluid used for the purpose of drilling a well. Source: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Definitions, Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, § 25.990, December 7, 2012. Regulations  

Drilling Fluid

Drilling fluid: fluid for the construction of the borehole, to which materials or preparation of whatever content have been added. Source: Mining Regulation of the Netherlands, WJZ 02063603, Netherlands,16 December 2002. Regulations
Drilled-Solids Removal System Performance

Drilled-Solids Removal System Performance

Definition(s)

Drilled-Solids Removal System Performance

Measure of the removal of drilled solids by surface solids-control equipment. NOTE The calculation is based on a comparison of the dilution required to maintain the desired drilled-solids content, with that which would have been required if none of the drilled solids were removed. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Drilled-Solids Removal System

Drilled-Solids Removal System

Definition(s)

Drilled-Solids Removal System

All equipment and processes used while drilling a well that remove the solids generated from the hole and carried by the drilling fluid. NOTE These processes include settling, screening, desanding, desilting, centrifuging and dumping. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Drilled-Solids Fraction

Drilled-Solids Fraction

Definition(s)

Drilled-Solids Fraction

Average volume fraction of drilled solids maintained in the drilling fluid over a specified interval of footage. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Drilled Solids

Drilled Solids

Definition(s)

Drilled Solids

Formation solids which enter the drilling-fluid system, whether produced by the drill bit or from the side of the borehole. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Drilled Solids

Drilling solids or cuttings are particles that are generated by drilling into subsurface geological formations and are carried to the surface with drilling muds. Source:  Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines, The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and National Energy Board, Canada, December 15, 2010. Regulatory Guidance  

Drilled Solids

Drilling muds are fluids that are circulated in oil and gas wells to clean and condition the hole, to lubricate the drill bit and to counterbalance formation pressure. These muds consist of a “continuous phase” which forms the base fluid and in which the various other mud components are suspended or dissolved. Depending on the nature of the well to be drilled and the technical requirements, wells may be drilled using one mud system from top to bottom, or may require modifications to the mud formulation or mud type as the well progresses. Source:  Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines, The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and National Energy Board, Canada, December 15, 2010. Regulatory Guidance  
Dilution Factor

Dilution Factor

Definition(s)

Dilution Factor

Ratio of the actual volume of clean drilling fluid required to maintain a targeted drilled solids concentration to the volume of drilling fluid required to maintain the same drilled solids fraction over the same specified interval of footage with no drilled-solids removal system. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Dilution

Dilution

Definition(s)

Dilution

Method of decreasing the drilled-solids content of a slurry by addition of a material(s) other than drilled solids, usually a clean drilling fluid. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Desilter

Desilter

Definition(s)

Desilter

Hydrocyclone having an inside diameter less than 152 mm (6 in). Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Desander

Desander

Definition(s)

Desander

Hydrocyclone, having an inside diameter of 152 mm (6 in) or larger, that removes a high proportion of the particles of diameter 74 μm and larger from a drilling fluid. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Density

Density

Definition(s)

Density

Mass divided by volume. NOTE 1 In the SI system, density is expressed in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3); In United States Customary units it is expressed as pounds per gallon (lb/gal) or pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft3). NOTE 2 Drilling fluid density is commonly referred to as “drilling fluid weight” or “mud weight. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Density

Mass of a substance per unit of volume. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global Standards  

Density

Density is the ratio of the mass to the volume of a product, expressed in terms of kilograms per cubic metre. This applies to liquids, gases and vapours. Source: Resolution MEPC.119(52), 2004 amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), 15 October 2004, International Maritime Organization, Regulatory Guidance  
Decanting Centrifuge

Decanting Centrifuge

Definition(s)

Decanting Centrifuge

Centrifuge which removes solids from a feed slurry by rotating the liquid in cylindrical bowl at high speed and discharges the larger particles as a damp underflow. NOTE Colloidal solids are discharged with the liquid overflow, or light slurry. The decanting centrifuge has an internal auger that moves solids that have settled to the bowl walls out of a pool of liquid and to the underflow. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
D100 Separation

D100 Separation

Definition(s)

D100 Separation

Particle size, expressed in micrometres, determined by plotting the percentage of aluminium oxide (aluminum oxide) sample separated by the test screen on the plot of cumulative mass fraction (as percent) retained versus U.S. Sieve Opening (expressed in micrometres) for the sieve analysis of the aluminium oxide test sample. NOTE 100 % of the particles larger than the D100 separation are retained by the test screen. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  
Cuttings

Cuttings

Definition(s)

Cuttings

Formation pieces dislodged by the drill bit and brought to the surface in the drilling fluid. NOTE Field practice is to call all solids removed by the shaker screen “cuttings,” although some can be sloughed material. Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards  

Cuttings

Cuttings as mentioned in the first subsection, means both solid material from the formation and solid material added as part of the drilling fluid or other fluids used in drilling and well activities. Organic drilling fluid means mineral oil-based and synthetic drilling fluid. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Activities Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance