What Does
Zero-Zero Gels Mud Mean?
Zero-zero gels mud refers to drilling muds with very low gel strength. This indicates that the gel strength when measured at 10 seconds and 10 minutes, both have values near zero. At zero-zero gel strength, the drilling mud will allow barite and cuttings to settle.
The 10-minute and 10-second gel strength indicates the initial gel as per API, and is the shear stress measured at low shear rate after the mud is allowed to set for 10 minutes and 10 seconds respectively.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Zero-Zero Gels Mud
Gel strength indicates the gelling that will take place once the circulation of drilling fluid is stopped. It measures the inter-particle forces that will prevent the cuttings from settling in the borehole.
To break circulation in a high gel mud, high pump pressure is required. The 10-second gel strength is measured by slowly rotating the handwheel at the slow and steady motion of 3 rpm till the gel breaks.
Before testing, the mud slurry is rotated at 600 rounds per minute (rpm) and allowed to rest for 10 seconds. The 10-minute gel strength is measured by slowly rotating the handwheel at the slow and steady motion of 3 rpm till the gel breaks.
Before testing, the mud slurry is rotated at 600 rounds per minute (rpm) and allowed to rest for 10 minutes.