Circulating Fluid Systems
Drilling fluid, or "mud," is typically a mixture of water and bentonite (an absorbent, gel-forming clay) and sometimes oil or other components. It has four primary functions: cooling, lubricating, and cleaning the bit; removing the cuttings; providing hydrostatic pressure to prevent entry of formation fluids into the well bore; and reducing the risk of hazardous blowouts.
Mud pumps force the mud up a standpipe and through the flexible kelly hose to the swivel, where it enters the drill string via the kelly and eventually emerges at the bit in the well bore. Cuttings carried by the drilling fluid are taken for analysis to determine the composition of the stratum being drilled.
Typical hazards associated with working on or around components of circulating fluid systems are various:
- Chemical: Mixing of the mud exposes workers to airborne respirable dust and chemical splashes.
- Falls: Tanks in which mud is mechanically stirred are hazardous when unguarded.
- Electrical: Effective lockout procedures may not be followed during tank maintenance operations.
- Slips and trips: Walking surfaces nearby may be slippery, especially in wet or icy weather.
- High pressure: Pressure surges causing line rupture are an occasional hazard.
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4-9. What are the hazards when mixing drilling fluid (mud)?
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