Drilling Equipment & Operations

Drilling Fluid Definitions and General Functions
Results of research has shown that penetration rate and its response to
weight on bit and rotary speed is highly dependent on the hydraulic horsepower reaching the formation at the bit. Because the drilling fluid flow rate
sets the system pressure losses and these pressure losses set the hydraulic
horsepower across the bit, it can be concluded that the drilling fluid is as
important in determining drilling costs as all other “controllable” variables
combined. Considering these factors, an optimum drilling fluid is properly formulated so that the flow rate necessary to clean the hole results in
the proper hydraulic horsepower to clean the bit for the weight and rotary

drilling oil exploration