Effect of Drilling Fluid Properties on Rate of Penetration

The scope of this work is to determine the effect of drilling fluid properties on penetration rate in a field using daily drilling reports. Based on our field studies the following drilling fluid properties affect penetration rate to varying degrees: mud weight, plastic viscosity and solid content. The result of this study shows that the net effect of drilling fluid properties on penetration rate is less than what it thought to be. Penetration rate is decreased by increasing plastic viscosity, solid content and mud weight. Decreasing the penetration rate is more attributed to increase of depth, because by increasing the depth, rock strength increases and porosity decreases.