scope:

This recommended practice provides standard procedures for determining the following characteristics of water-based drilling fluids:

a) drilling fluid density (mud weight);

b) viscosity and gel strength;

c) filtration;

d) water, oil, and solids contents;

e) sand content;

f) methylene blue capacity;

g) pH;

h) alkalinity and lime content;

i) chloride content;

j) total hardness as calcium;

k) low-gravity solids and weighting material concentrations.

Annexes A through K provide additional test methods that may be used for:

- chemical analysis for calcium, magnesium, calcium sulfate, sulfide, carbonate, and potassium;

- determination of shear strength;

- determination of resistivity;

- removal of air;

- drill-pipe corrosion monitoring;

- sampling, inspection, and rejection;

- rig-site sampling;

- calibration and verification of glassware, thermometers, timers, viscometers, retort cup, and drilling fluid balances;

- permeability plugging testing at high temperature and high pressure for two types of equipment;

- Sag testing.