Page 6 -

CONTENTS

Preface ix

Part One Liquid Drilling Systems 1
1. Equipment in Mud Circulating Systems 3
1.1 Introduction 3
1.2 Mud Pumps 3
1.3 Drill Strings 6
1.4 Contaminant-Removal Equipment 11
Summary 18

2. Mud Hydraulics Fundamentals 19
2.1 Introduction 19
2.2 Characterization of Drilling Mud 19
2.3 Hydraulics Models 26
Summary 57

3. Mud Pumps 61
3.1 Introduction 61
3.2 Mud Flow Rate Requirements 61
3.3 Pressure Requirements 66
3.4 Horsepower Requirements 72
3.5 Capacities of Mud Pumps 74
Summary 78

4. Mud Hydraulics Optimization 81
4.1 Introduction 81
4.2 The Criteria of Hydraulics Optimization 81
4.3 The Optimum Design of a Hydraulics Program 86
Summary 104
Part Two Gas Drilling Systems 107

5. Equipment in Gas Drilling Systems 109
5.1 Introduction 109
5.2 Surface Equipment 109
5.3 Downhole Equipment 114
Summary 117

vii