Summary:

  • Magnetic mud affects the magnetic survey
  • A base model: predictable cross-axial attenuation
  • Difficult to apply
  • Not included into the error model
  • Some practices in place to avoid the problem
  • I have 3 more years full-time to sort it out

The magnetic drilling mud:

  • When the drilling mud is contaminated by magnetic materials, it become itself magnetic
  • A magnetic mud alters the geomagnetic field at the MWD assembly
  • Thus inducing an error in the magnetic measurement
  • The problem is known since 20 years, SPE71400, SPE87169, SPE113206, etc. 
  • Many gaps in understanding the effect and in predicting the error

Occurrence:

  • Only when doing magnetic survey..
  • Magnetic ingredients in the mud recipe (Ilmenite, Hematite, contaminated batches)
  • Heavily used mud
  • Error enhanced when drilling at high latitudes

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View the entire Presentation:

Magnetic Mud

 

Giorgio Pattarini

 

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