BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Oil / Synthetic Fluids
Oil
Density at
60°F (15°C)
(g/ml)
Table 5-3
Initial
Boiling
Point
Diesel 0.84 383°F
195°C
ISO-TEQ C16-18
(SYN-TEQ sys.)
Exxon
ESCAID 110
SIPDRILL 2/0
(PARA-TEQ sys.)
0.792 >518ºF
>270ºC
0.806 394°F
201°C
0.760 412ºF
211ºC
Total HDF2000 0.808 450°F
232°C
Conoco LVT200 0.820 421°F
216°C
ALPHA-TEQ 0.778 437°F
225°C
EDC 99 DW 0.811 448°F
231°C
SARAPAR 147
Aniline Point
0.76 @
30°c
Base Fluid Properties
Final
Boiling
Point
734°F
390°C
Flash
Point
149°F
65°C
NA 273ºF
134ºC
459°F
237°C
455°f
235°C
622°F
328°C
518°F
270°C
518°F
270°C
509°F
265°C
167°F
75°C
203ºF
95ºC
221°F
105°C
201°F
94°C
237°F
114°C
214°F
101°C
NA NA 248°f
120°C
Aniline
Point
154°F
68°C
Aromatic
Content
(wt. %)
Viscosity at
104°F (40°C)
(cSt)
25 %v/v 3.4
180ºF NA 3.6
162°F
72°C
189°F
87°C
192°F
89°C
166°F
74°C
147°F
64°C
176°
80°C
0.05 1.63
< 0.1 1.75
0.4 3.3
1.0 2.1
0.1 2.06
0.0 2.28
90°C NA 2.6
The Aniline Point is an indicator of the detrimental effects (damage) oil will inflict on the elastomers
(rubber compounds) that come into contact with oil-based (non-aqueous) drilling fluids. It is
commonly referred to as a test to evaluate base oils that are used in oil muds. The test indicates if a
particular oil is likely to damage those parts of the drilling fluid system which are constructed from
rubber materials.
The aniline point is called the "aniline point temperature," which is the lowest temperature (°F or °C)
at which equal volumes of aniline (C 6 H 5 NH 2 ) and the oil form a single phase. The aniline point (AP)
correlates roughly with the amount and type of aromatic hydrocarbons in an oil sample. A low
Aniline Point is indicative of higher aromatic, while a high Aniline Point is indicative of lower
aromatic content.
It has been established through field experience that oils exhibiting an Aniline Point of less than 140º
F (60º C) will be damaging to the elastomers (rubber parts) of a drilling fluid circulating system. The
API has developed test procedures that are the standard for the industry.
Synthetics
Synthetic-base drilling fluids (SBF) use a synthetic type material as the continuous phase. The first
SBF was used offshore Norway in March 1990. Since that time, due to the ever-changing
environmental status of SBFs, several types of synthetic materials have been used to formulate the
synthetic-base fluid. Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, in April 1994, used an isomerized olefin
(ISO-TEQ TM ) for the continuous phase of a SBF. This was the first use of the olefin which has now
become the industry standard. Like the hydrocarbon-base fluids, the olefin-base fluid will not solvate
or swell clays, making them ideal for drilling hydratable shales.
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
5-18 Revised 2006