: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF ON THE OF WATER BASED DRILLING MUD USING REGRESSION ANALYSIS

This study investigates the effect of increasing temperature on the rheological properties of water based drilling mud, which is critical for optimizing drilling operations. The rheological properties analyzed include plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and gel strength (GS), which play a vital role in the performance and efficiency of drilling fluids. As temperature can significantly influence the flow behavior and stability of the drilling mud, understanding these changes is essential for ensuring the mud’s ability to suspend drill cuttings, maintain wellbore stability, and reduce friction during drilling operations. The study examines a temperature range from 100°F to 160°F, reflecting typical downhole temperature conditions encountered during drilling operations. To achieve this, laboratory experiments were conducted on formulated WBM samples subjected to a controlled temperature range. Rheological measurements were taken using a viscometer at various rotational speeds (600, 300, 200, 100, 6, and 3 RPM) to calculate PV, YP, and gel strengths. The results were analyzed using regression analysis in Microsoft Excel to assess the relationship between temperature and each rheological parameter. Data trends and correlation coefficients were used to determine the degree of influence temperature has on each property. The results revealed that increasing temperature had a notable effect on the rheological behavior of the mud. Plastic viscosity showed a decreasing trend with rising temperature, indicating reduced fluid resistance, while the yield point and gel strengths generally declined, suggesting weakened structural integrity of the mud. The regression models demonstrated strong correlations, supporting the reliability of the findings. The study concluded that temperature significantly influences WBM rheology, which must be accounted for in high-temperature drilling environments to maintain mud performance and ensure operational efficiency.