Mixing Fluids of Different Densities with Pit Space Limitation

You many have different drilling fluid densities in your mud pits so you can have option to mix different fluid densities together in order to get you desired mud weight and desired volume. The concept is to weighted average volume and density of each mud component. The calculation is show as a formula below

(V1 x D1) + (V2 x D2) = VF x DF

Where;

V1 = volume of fluid 1 (bbl, gal, etc.)

D1 = density of fluid 1 (ppg,lb/ft3, etc.)

V2 = volume of fluid 2 (bbl, gal, etc.)

D2 = density of fluid 2 (ppg,lb/ft3, etc.)

VF = volume of final fluid mix

DF = density of final fluid mix

There are 2 cases of calculations as follows:

Case#1: You have limitation of pit space.

Case#2: You don't have limitation of pit space.

Let's read and understand how to calculate each case.

Case#1: You have limitation of pit space.

This case you can not apply only formula as show above but you need to add one formula and then you use relationship between 2 equations to sovle your problem.

Determine the volume of 10.0 ppg mud and 14.0 ppg mud required to build 300 bbl of

12.0 ppg mud:

You have following mud in you mud pit.

• 300 bbl of 10.0 ppg mud in pit A

• 300 bbl of 14.0 ppg mud in pitB

Solution:

V1 = volume of 10.0 ppg mud required to mix

V2 = volume of 14.0 ppg mud required to mix

So total volume required: V1 + V2 = 300 bbl -> Equation#1

Apply formula of mixing different fluid density.

(V1 x D1) + (V2 x D2) = VF x DF

Where;

V1 = volume of 10.0 ppg mud required to mix

D1 = 10 ppg

V2 = volume of 14.0 ppg mud required to mix

D2 = 14.0 ppg

VF = 300 bbl

DF = 12.0 ppg

(V1 x10.0) + (V2 x 14.0) = 300 x 12.0 -> Equation#2

From Equation#1: V1 = 300 – V2.

Use this relationship to Equation#2

((300-V2) x 10.0) + (V2 x 14.0) = 3,600

3000 – 10V2 + 14V2 = 3600

4V2 = 600

V2 = 150

So volume of 14.0 ppg mud required to mix = 150 bbl

Let's go back to Equation#1 and put V2 that you just solve so you will get V1

V1 + V2 = 300 bbl

V1 + 150 = 300

V1 = 150 bbl

In order to get 300 bbl of 12.0 ppg mud, you need to mix 150 bbl of 10.0 ppg with 150 bbl of 14.0 ppg.

The case#2 will be posted on the next post so please continue in next few days.

Please find the excel sheet to calculate "mix different mud density with limited pit space"