BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

COURSE TITTLE:

LABORATORY PRACTICAL (PEE4311)

EXPERIMENT III:

MARSH FUNNEL VISCOMETER

BY

UMAR BALARABE UMAR

REG.NO: ENG/16/PET/00285

GROUP(E)

FEBRUARY,2021
OUTLINE

 Tittle page

 Abstract

 Introduction

 Procedure

 Apparatus/experiment

 Diagrams

 Results

 Discussion

 Conclusion

 References

 Appendix

ABSTRACT
Accurate and simple techniques for measurement of fluid rheological properties are important for

field operations in the oil industry. Marsh Funnels are popular quality- control tools used in the

field for drilling fluids and they offer a simple, practical alternative to viscosity measurement. In

the normal measurements, a single point (drainage time) is used to determine an average

viscosity; little additional information is extracted regarding the non-Newtonian behavior of the

fluid. Here, a new model is developed and used to determine the rheological properties of

drilling muds and other non-Newtonian fluids using data of fluid density and drainage time

collected from a Marsh Funnel as a function of viscosity.

INRODUCTION

The Marsh Funnel was invented by Hallan N. Marsh in 1931. It is used to measure the time in

seconds required to fill a set volume of fluid. (In the United States the volume is one quart.) The

flow through the small tip at the end of the funnel is related to the rheological properties of the

fluid being measured. The Marsh Funnel “viscosity” is reported as seconds and used as an

indicator of the relative consistency of fluids. The more viscous the fluid the longer the time to

fill one quart. The calibration for Marsh Funnel time is 28 seconds per quart for fresh water. The

Marsh Funnel provides a simple and effective tool to determine the relative viscosity of drilling

mud. Here, we also use the funnel for additional oilfield fluid the marsh funnel is a simple device

for measuring viscosity by observing the time it takes a known volume of liquid to flow from a

cone through a short tube. It is standadized for use by mud engineers to check the quality of

drilling mud other cones with different geometries and orifice arrangement are called flow cones,

but have the same operating principles.

Hydrocarbon production uses many fluids that are rheologically complex. Among these is

cement, drilling muds, aqueous solutions of water-soluble polymer and of course crude oil itself.

Drilling fluids can be air or water, but most commonly they are “muds” or suspensions of solids
in an aqueous or oleic fluid. The solids are suspended with one or more surfactants. The solids

are used to provide weight to the mud for pressure control, the main function of muds, but muds

also lubricate the drill, carry drilling cuttings to the surface and cool the bit. When fresh water is

the liquid base, bentonite is the clay used for its superior properties necessary to achieve the

goals stated for drilling mud. Water-based fluids are suspensions of weight material in water, but

also contain a number of additives to control fluid properties such as rheology, fluid loss, shale

inhibition and lubricity. The standard weight material is API barite. There are also non-standard

weight materials with considerably finer particle size, which generate low rheology and are used

in some high- density and/or slim-hole applications. The liquid phase of drilling fluids generally

contains a number of additives to control the various required properties of fluids, including one

or more rheology additives to suspend the weight material. Thuss, fluid rheology is generated

partly by the suspended solids and partly by the rheology additives. Drilling mud exhibits several

important rheological properties The viscosity or consistency index of a mud is a measure of

flow resistance Therefore, viscosity should be as small as possible to limit friction pressure.

However a certain amount of viscosity is required to improve the solids carrying capacity of the

mud. If viscosity is too small, the mud may be unable to suspend drilled solids at the desired

pump rate. This requires the pumps to be run faster to continue to circulate drilled solids out of

the well. If viscosity is too high, an excessive pump pressure will be required to circulate the

mud at the desired rate. Higher than necessary pump pressure is an added strain on the pumps
and piping and an added pressure in the bore hole that can lead to well bore stability problems.

Non- Newtonian fluids (drilling muds and polymers) may also exhibit a yield stress (or gel

strength). For drilling operations, the higher the yield stress the more pump pressure will be

required to initiate circulation. The yield stress can also be a desirable property because it will

suspend the drilled solids and prevent or slow them from slipping back to the bottom of the hole

during periods when there is no circulation. Fluid yield stress in fracturing fluids for example can

help carry and suspend proppant, but can also make cleanup difficult. Below the yield stress the

material is solid- like and has an infinite viscosity. The solid-like behavior is typically a result of

a three-dimensional microstructure at low stresses. Above the yield stress the material deforms as

a fluid and the viscosity is a function of shear rate.

PROCEDURE

The Marsh funnel should be clean and dry before performing this procedure.

1. Collect a fresh slurry sample.

2. Hold the funnel erect with a finger over the outlet tube, and pour the slurry into the funnel

through the screen until the slurry level reaches the bottom of the screen. (The screen will filter

out the larger particles that could clog the outlet tube.)
3. Quickly remove your finger from the outlet tube, and at the same time, begin timing the

slurry outflow.

4. Allow one quart (946 ml) of slurry to flow from the Marsh funnel into a measuring container.

5. Record the seconds it takes for the quart of slurry to flow from the funnel. Report this value

as the Marsh funnel viscosity. Also record the temperature of the slurry sample.

APPARATUS/EQUIPMENT

1) Measuring Cup,

2) Stainless Steel Measuring Cup,

3) Metal Dial Thermometer (Fahrenheit)

4) Digital Thermometer (Fahrenheit and Centigrade)

5) T-Handle Reamer, 3/16"

6) Digital Stopwatch
 DIAGRAMS

Figure 1: G.J-35 Digital mixer Figure 3: Digital weight device

 Figure 2: Marsh Funnel Figure 4: Digital PH meter

DISCUSSION

 CALIBRATION CHECK

Periodically check the calibration of the Marsh funnel by measuring the viscosity of fresh water.

The Marsh funnel viscosity of one quart of fresh water at 70 ± 5oF (21 ± 3oC) is 26 ± 0.5

seconds.

If the funnel is out of calibration, clean it using a pipe cleaner to make sure that nothing is

obstructing the outlet. If the funnel continues to give an incorrect reading for fresh water after

cleaning, then the outlet tube has probably been damaged and the funnel should be replaced.
  MAINTENANCE:

Follow these suggestions to care for the Marsh Funnel:

1. Clean and dry the funnel and any other accessories thoroughly after each use.

2. Take special care not to bend or flatten the brass outlet tube at the bottom of the funnel. The

Marsh Funnel Viscosity readings are computed using the exact diameter of this outlet and if the

outlet is distorted the readings will be inaccurate.

READINGS

Density of water was measured to e 8.33lb/g

Volume of water used Vw = 350ml

Bentonite weigh t= 24.5lb

Revolution of mixer = 600ppm/sec

Time =300 seconds

Mud viscosity=8.6lb/g
PRECAUTIONS:

 It was ensured that 88.76g of bentonite and 1500ml of water was measured.

 It was ensured that the mud was mixed at appropriate 15min as needed

 It was ensured the time required for one quarter strip of the sample into the cup was

taken carefully

 It also ensured that the marsh funnel was holded upright position with the index finger.

CONCLUSION

From experiment we conducted after measured the fluid properties, we learned that the

experimental correlation between the apparent viscosity depend on Marsh time and density

together which show all calculations to determine the viscosity from observed equations. In

addition, the accuracy of the present work compared to the true clear relationship between the

Marsh Funnel viscosity (t) and the apparent viscosity was obtained through this study.
REFERRENCES

www.wikikepedia.Com

Students lab manual

Marsh H: "Properties and Treatment of Rotary Mud,"

Petroleum Development and Technology, Transactions of the AIME (1931): 234-251