Size Measurement of Dry, Granular Drilling Fluid Particulates

API TECHNICAL REPORT 13TR3 FIRST EDITION, OCTOBER 2018

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

2. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations 1

   1. General Terms 1

   2. Abbreviations 4

3. Characteristics of Granular Lost Circulation Materials 5

4. Particle Size Distributions (PSD) 5

5. Sampling 5

6. Methods of Sizing Drilling Fluid Particulates 6

   1. General 6

   2. PSA Techniques 6

   3. Usage Applications of PSA Techniques-Drilling and Completion Fluids Industry 9

7. Size Analysis Technique Recommendations Based on Particle Size 10

8. Comparison of PSA Methods for Fine, Medium, Coarse, and Extremely Coarse Materials 11

   1. General 11

9. Reporting of Results 15

10. Recommendations for Particulate Size Reporting of Granular Materials Used in Drilling Fluids . . . 16 10.1 Reader Header 16

1. Particle Size Distribution (PSD) 17

2. Examples of PSD Reports 18

Bibliography 24

Figures

1. Optimum Size Range of Some PSA Techniques 9

2. Particle Size Parameters for API Barite 12

3. Particle Size Parameters for Fine CaCO 12

4. Particle Size Parameters for Medium CaCO3 13

5. Particle Size Parameters for Coarse CaCO3 14

6. Particle Size Parameters for Extra Coarse CaCO3 14

7. Particle Size Parameters for 6-Mesh Al2O3 15

8. Graphic Laser Diffraction PSD of a Barite Composite Sample 19

9. Graphic Laser Diffraction PSD of a Drilling Fluid System 19

10. Graphic Laser Diffraction PSD of a Blended Product 20

11. Graphic Laser Diffraction PSD of a Drilling Fluid System 20

12. Dry Sieve Analysis: Cumulative Mass Passing Opening Sieve Size 21

13. Dry Sieve Analysis: Cumulative Mass Passing Opening Sieve Size 21

14. Dry Image Analysis: Blended CaCO3, PSD, and Particle Aspect Ratio 22

15. Dry Image Analysis: Blended CaCO3, Semi-log Plot of Differential Vol % vs Size 22

16. Dry Image Analysis: Blended CaCO3, Frame Capture 23

17. Dry Image Analysis: CaCO3 Nominal d50 = 250 m 23

Tables

1. Sizing Method Recommendations for Granular Materials 10

2. Sizing Method Recommendations for Anisometric Materials (Aspect ratio > 6:1) 11

3. Example Cumulative Particle Size Distribution by Volume % vs Size 18

4. Example Cut Point Data 18

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Size Measurement of Dry, Granular Drilling Fluid Particulates

1. Scope

   
   

   This report is intended to serve as a guide for the selection of appropriate techniques to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) of relatively large dry solid additives for drilling fluids, especially lost circulation materials (LCMs). Detailed procedures for the utilization of any specific PSD method are not included. The technician should refer to and be guided by the measurement equipment manufacturer’s instructions. The particulates range in size from approximately one micron to as much as several millimeters in diameter, and are considered “granular” in shape, i.e. relatively isometric (of similar length, width, and height). The recommendations in this technical report generally are not applicable to the measurement of the PSD of nonisometric (high aspect ratio) materials such as fibers or flakes.

   
   

2. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations

2.1 General Terms

2.1.1

anisometric

Having two or more axes that are significantly different from each other

NOTE The opposite is “isometric”; see 2.1.6.

2.1.2

aspect ratio

A numeric expression of the relative length, width, and height (or thickness) of a particle as a ratio.

NOTE 1 Aspect ratio provides information on the shape of a particulate.

NOTE 2 The preferred format of the expression is with the largest axis in the primary position, the second-largest axis in the secondary position, and the smallest axis in the third (last) position. (example: 3.5 : 2.5 : 1) An alternative format for the aspect ratio is a value equivalent to the largest axis divided by the smallest axis (example: 3.5, only one number is provided).

2.1.3

axes

axis (singular)

The three principal measured dimensions of a discrete particle, measured orthogonally (at 90-degree angles) from one another, commonly known as length, width, and height.

2.1.4

differential plot

In a particle size distribution, a chart showing the percentile of a population (by count, mass, or volume) of particles within defined size ranges.

NOTE This is usually displayed as a linear or semi-log histogram plot of % versus size.

2.1.5

granule

granular (adjective)

A particle that has axial dimensions (i.e. aspect ratio) that are near to isometric.

NOTE Distinguished from flake or fibrous materials in that they do not have significantly flattened or elongated dimensions.