Rheology is measured at the surface and used to predict behaviour downhole, where temperature and pressure are entirely different. For a water-based fluid the difference may be manageable; for an oil-based fluid in a deepwater riser or a hot deep well it is large, and using surface measurements directly can misstate pressure losses and equivalent circulating density significantly.

Low shear rate rheology is where most hole cleaning performance lives. The six-speed viscometer readings at three and six revolutions per minute, and the gel strengths that follow them, describe the fluid's ability to suspend cuttings and barite when circulation slows or stops. These are the readings most often neglected in favour of the familiar plastic viscosity and yield point.

Test quality determines decision quality. Viscometers out of calibration, retorts read carelessly, filtration tests run at the wrong temperature and titrations done inconsistently produce data that looks precise and leads to wrong treatments. This course covers the tests, their interpretation and the quality control that makes them reliable.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Apply rheological models and calculate parameters from viscometer data.
• Operate viscometers correctly and interpret all speed readings.
• Explain the significance of gel strengths and low shear rate viscosity.
• Assess temperature and pressure effects on rheology.
• Apply rheological data in hydraulics and equivalent circulating density calculations.
• Conduct and interpret filtration tests at ambient and downhole conditions.
• Measure and interpret electrical stability for invert emulsion fluids.
• Conduct retort and solids analysis and calculate solids content.
• Conduct chemical analyses including alkalinity, chlorides, hardness and sulphides.
• Conduct sag testing and apply laboratory quality control.

The course is instructor-led and testing-focused. Each test is covered in procedure and interpretation, with worked calculations from real data sets. Participants calculate rheological parameters, solids content and chemical results from raw readings and compare them with reported values, including cases where the reported data was wrong. Participants are encouraged to bring their own test data for discussion.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Improve the reliability of fluid test data used for decisions.
• Improve hydraulics and hole cleaning calculations through better rheology data.
• Identify measurement error before it causes wrong treatments.
• Strengthen laboratory and field testing quality control.
• Improve technical oversight of fluids testing by contractors.

Participants will:

• Understand rheological models and how parameters are derived.
• Be able to run and interpret the full standard test suite.
• Understand temperature and pressure effects on measured properties.
• Be able to spot unreliable test data.
• Be able to link test results to hydraulics and hole cleaning.

• Drilling fluids and mud engineers
• Laboratory and technical services staff
• Drilling engineers
• Hydraulics and well engineering staff
• Fluids service company technical personnel
• Graduate engineers in fluids roles

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.

Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.