Calculation of Formation Temperature Disturbances Caused

by Mud Circulation
M. J. EDWARDSON

MEMBER A/ME
H. M. GIRNER
H. R. PARKISON

MEMBER A/ME

SHELL DEVELOPMENT
HOUSTON, TEX.

co.'

C. D. WILLIAMS
C. S. MATTHEWS

MEMBER A/ME

ABSTRACT
Quantitative interpretation of electric logs requires
knowledge of formation temperature. In this paper, methods are developed for computing changes in jormation
temperature caused by circulation of mud during drilling
operations. The basis of the method is the mathematical
solution of the differential equation oj heat conduction.
The solution of this equation is presented in a series oj
graphs. These graphs are used to determine formation
temperature disturbance at various radii for arbitrary mud
circulation histories. Example comparisons with field results show reasonable agreement. It is concluded that, in
general, the temperature disturbances caused by circulating
mud are small beyond 10ft from the wellbore but are
quite significant near the wellbore.
INTRODUCTION
Quantitative interpretation of electric logs requires
knowledge of the formation temperature in order to establish the resistivity of the formation water with accuracy.
To determine the formation temperature, the temperature
disturbances produced by circulating drilling mud must
be evaluated. The objective of this investigation was to
develop a method for the numerical determination of
these temperature disturbances at any distance from the
wellbore as a function of time.
The first step was to solve the differential equation describing the temperature behavior in the formation during and after mud circulation. This solution was used to
calculate a series of curves relating temperature disturbance to shut-in time for various circulating periods. An
"exact" method for computing formation temperatures
with the use of these temperature-disturbance plots is described, and the results of an application of this method
to a well in Montana are presented. Procedures for approximating formation temperatures are also discussed.
BASIC EQUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS
With the assumptions that (1) cylindrical symmetry
exists, with the borehole as the axis, (2) heat flow is
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers office
Aug. 7, 1961. Revised manuscript received Dec. 8, 1961. Paper presented
at 36th Annual Fall Meeting of SPE, Oct. 8-11, 1961, in Dallas.
. *All five authors were affiliated with Shell Development Co. at the
tIme the research reported in this paper was conducted For present
company affiliations, see author sketches on page 397.
.

SPE 124
416

due only to conductivity and (3) vertical heat flow in

the formation is zero, the temperature distribution around
a well bore is defined by the following differential equation:

aOT

1 aT

cpp aT

or'+ r-or- =K- ot'

(1)

where T = temperature,
r = radius,
C p = specific heat capacity of formation rock,
p = density of formation rock,
K = thermal conductivity of formation rock,
and
t = time.
In terms of dimensionless time tD = Ktlcppr'." and
dimensionless radius rD = rlr." the constants in Eq. 1
disappear, and it becomes

a'T

aT

+or'D
rDorD

(2)

Other simplifying assumptions made in the treatment

of the temperature problem are as follows.
1. The formation can be treated as though it is radially
infinite and homogeneous in extent, as regards heat flow.
2. The presence of mud cake can be disregarded.
3. The effect of heat generated by bit action is negligible.
4. After mud circulation ceases, the rate of radial heat
flow at the well bore is negligible and is assumed zero for
purposes of calculating temperature change with time.
These assumptions are believed to be reasonable because of the agreement achieved between calculated and
measured borehole temperature in a well, to be discussed
later. Further, the agreement at the wellbore indicates
that temperatures in the formation were also approximately
correct, since it is the formation temperatures that determine well bore temperature after ceasing circulations.
SOLUTION OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION
AND ITS APPLICATION
The solution of Eq. 2 for the temperature behavior
during and after a single period of mud circulation is
2References given at end of paper.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

tlT(rD' t)
tlT (0) = q(O)P(rD' tD)

+ "!8 q (tDn) P(rv,tv -

tvn ) . (3)

as shown in Appendix A. This equation expresses the

temperature change .tlT(rD, t) at radius r D and at time t
in terms of the initial temperature disturbance caused by
the mud, tlT(O), and the known functions P(rD' tD) and
q(tD)' The quantity q(tD) is the rate of heat flow into
the wellbore when the temperature drop at the wellbore
is held constant. The function P(rD' tD) is the temperature
disturbance at a radius r D, and at time tD if the rate of
heat flow at the wellbore is constant. The advantage of
the form of the solution given in Eq. 3 is that the functions q(tD) and P(rv, tv) are already known and tabulated.
Thus computations could be made at once using Eq. 3 by
simply looking up these values (see Appendix E) and
substituting into Eq. 3.
Using Eq. 3, computations of tlT(rD' tD) I tlT(O) were
carrried out for various circulating times, over the range
of dimensionless radii rD in which the temperature disturbances are of appreciable magnitude. The method of
computation is discussed in Appendix B.
From these results, a series of curves of dimensionless temperature disturbance vs log [(t- tk)lt] are constructed, where t is total time including circulation time
and (t - tk) is time after circulation ceased. These curves,
which are contained in Appendix D, can be used to determine the formation temperature disturbance tlT(rD, t)
caused by a particular period of circulation tk and a particular bore-face temperature change at the start of the
circulation period, tlT(O). Although the curves in Appendix D are calculated for tD = OAt based on "average"
formation thermal properties and a well bore radius of
0.328 ft, they can be adapted to other conditions by
simply replacing the values of tk on the graphs with values
corresponding to the new set of conditions. For instance,
should the case arise in which tD = 0.2t, the curve for
tk = 4.8 hours would be redesignated t'. = 9.6 hours.

periods, the mud temperature approaches the formatIOn

temperature; thus, the temperature disturbance decreases,
as shown. The disturbance increases as a new circulation
period begins, as at the beginning of circulation Period II.
Strictly speaking, the temperature disturbance will not
remain constant during Period I but, rather, will decrease
slightly as the well is drilled deeper and the mud which
rises in the annulus becomes hotter. The change in mud
temperature at a given depth will be of the order of 1
to 2F1100 ft drilled. To simplify the already complex
computations, this slow change is disregarded during
Period I and .tlT(O) is assumed to apply during that
entire period, as shown in Fig. 1. However, the slow
change is taken into account approximately by using the
correct annulus mud temperature and, thus, the correct
value for tlT(O) at the start of each new circulation
period. Thus, the value of mud column temperature at
start of Period II, (T .. ,hr used in plotting Fig. 1, is
slightly greater than the value of mud column temperature at start of Period I, (T .. , h, because the well was
drilled deeper after the beginning of Period I. The difference is only about 1F because the well had only been
drilled about 100 ft during circulation Period I. Because
of the fact that (T .. ,)u > (T mJ r, the reader will note in
Fig. 1 that
tlT(O)r

> .tlT(Ohr + tlT(22)r

and that it is greater by about 1F.

The additional temperature change which occurs at
the beginning of Period II, .tlT(O)rr, is assumed to persist
unchanged throughout Period II. As noted on Fig. 1, this
has the effect of causing the total bore-face temperature
disturbance to decrease during Period II. This gives the
same effect as does deeper drilling and hotter annular
mud temperature. In fact, it usually over-compensates
for the rise in annulus mud temperature as the well is
drilled deeper. In examples we have computed, however,
the assumption that the additional temperature disturbance which occurs at the start of a period persists
throughout that period caused an average error of only

DESCRIPTION OF THE "EXACT" METHOD OF

CALCULATING TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCE
This section describes an accurate, though time-consuming, method for calculating temperature disturbances.
This is called the "exact" method. The reader who is
interested only in learning how to make an approximation of the formation temperature can omit this section,
as well as the next.
At any specific depth in the well, the total formation
temperature disturbance caused by any mud circulation
history is derived by adding the disturbances caused by
each of the individual periods of circulation. The temperature disturbance tlT(rD' t) resulting from each circulation period can be determined with the use of the
plots of tlT(rD, t) ItlT(O) vs log [(t - tk) It]. To use the
plots, the ratio (t - t.) It and tlT(O) must be computed. The circulation time t. and shut-in time (t - t.)
can be read for each circulation period from the well
circulation history. The most difficult thing to determine
is bore-face temperature change at the start of a circulation period .tlT(O) , since this temperature has been disturbed by prior circulation periods. The residual effects
of prior circulation periods are shown on Fig. 1, which
schematically portrays the theoretical bore-face temperature-disturbance history resulting from three circulation
periods (I, II and III). In between these circulation
APRIL, 1962

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70

---1----

,. ,.

6T(22)I

,..-

...E
~

TEN HOURS AFTER CIRCULATION

CEASED IN PERIOD m I liT

IITI65l,
1

+ 1IT(431. +

1IT(2?lm

CIRCULATION PERIODS

80
90
LEGEND

100
110

liT = BORE-FACE TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCE, 'F

(Tflj UNDISTURBED FORMATION TEMPERATURE, 'F
Tmc

IS

CIRCULATING MUD TEMPERATURE, -F

TIME, HRS

FIG. l-THEORETICAI. BORE-FACE TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCE

AT A GIVEN DEPTH.

417

about 2F out of about a 70F differential. This error

has been disregarded.
The reader should note that the correct value for
total temperature disturbance is used at the start of each
period. Thus, the value of boT( 0) III is chosen in such a
manner as to make the total temperature disturbance
correct at the beginning of Period III. This is true for
every circulation period, and because of this feature no
large errors are allowed to build up, even though the
temperature at the end of each period is slightly incorrect.
The curved, dashed lines indicate the residual temperature disturbance caused by each period of mud circulation. For instance, at the beginning of circulation Period
III, the residual effects of Periods I and II are boT( 45) I
and boT(23 hI, respectively. The quantity boT( 45) I can be
read as "the temperature disturbance caused 45 hours
after the beginning of circulation Period I". The instantaneous temperature changeboT(O)m is the difference in
the undisturbed formation temperature and the circulating
mud temperature, [(T t ); - T m ,][!1, less the sum of.boT(45),
and boT(23}". In order to determine boT(Ohu and to utilize
the dimensionless-temperature-disturbance curves in Appendix D, the undisturbed formation temperature and the
following well information must be known: (1) the complete circulation history after the particular formation
interval of interest was reached in driIIing; and (2) the
circulating mud temperature in the annulus opposite the
depth of interest.
As mentioned, the circulating mud temperature in the
annulus does not remain constant at a specific depth but,
rather, changes as the well is drilled deeper. It is assumed
that at any particular time the circulating mud temperature Tmc at any point in the annular mud column D can
be expressed as

(4)
T"" = a" + a,D + a,D' .
where a", a, and a, are constants. Circulating annular
mud temperatures are discussed in greater detail in Appendix C. The undisturbed formation temperature (T,),
can be estimated from an equation in the form
(T t

),

= bn

+ b,D,

(5)

where b o = local "normal" formation temperature at surface, and

b, = local geothermal gradient.
Values of the difference in undisturbed formation temperature and circulating mud temperature, (T,); - T"", can
then be computed.
The most time-consuming phase of the "exact" calculation procedure is the evaluation of boT(O) for each circulation period. As shown previously, the value of boT(O)
for each circulation period subsequent to the first is a
function of the residual temperature disturbances resulting from all prior circulation periods since drilling past
this depth, as well as a function of (T t ); - Tn". The
residual bore-face temperature disturbances at the beginning of each circulation period are determined by utilizing
the dimensionless-temperature-change curves in Appendix
D. The procedure for calculating boT(O) values is as follows.

from the first period at the beginning of each subsequent

circulation period with the aid of the dimensionless-temperature-disturbance curves. Thus, compute boT (22 hours)"
b.T(45 hours)r and b.T(65 hours)r, as shown in Fig. 1.
3. Subtract the computed boT(t) resulting from the
first circulation period from [( T t ), - T mJu for the second circulation period to obtain boT(O)u, as shown in
Fig. 1. Then compute the temperature effect of the second circulation at the beginning of all subsequent circulation periods, such as b.T( 23) II.
4. Immediately prior to the beginning of the third
circulation period, sum the total bore-face temperature
disturbanoes resulting from the two previous circulations.
Subtract the sum of these residual temperature disturbances from [(TtL - T",]m to obtain boT(Oh). Then
compute the residual temperature disturbance resulting
from this circulation period at the start of each subsequent
circulation period.
5. Continue this step-wise process until values of b.T(O)
have been computed for each circulation period.
Once boT(O) has been computed for each circulation
period, the formation temperature disturbance at various
radii around the well bore resulting from each circulation
can be determined at any time with the aid of the dimensionless-temperature-disturbance curves in Appendix D.
Summing the effects of the individual circulation periods
yields the total temperature disturbance at the various
radii.
EXAMPLE APPLICATION
OF '"EXACT" METHOD FOR DETERMINING
TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES
The dimensionless-tern perature-disturbance curves in Appendix D were used to compute formation temperatures
for a well in Montana. Circulation history, drilling depth
and mud discharge temperature were available on the
well. The local undisturbed formation temperature (OF)
as a function of depth was estimated from (T t ); = 85 +
0.0145D. Estimates of bottom-hole circulating temperatures were obtained from API data" (Fig. 2). These data
provided a basis for estimating circulating mud temperatures (Fig. 3) and the difference between the equilibrium
360
340

2. Since boT(Oh is equal to [(T,); - 1'",,]) for the first

circulation period, compute the boT(t) for rD = 1 resulting
418

300

o,~Q

280
~

260

1.&.1

240

a:

&'7

~~

.
OJ

18 0

1.9'

V
1/
~l API RP lOB

5th EDITIONVMAy,I956 TABLE 5

.~.v

.. 200

~,~
.f'

16Of-- t--:;s'v

~I("

,+0

~~~
<.,,~
'<-~/
~

<.

<.O~
...G~
sc>\~

14

<.~

00<'

~<.\"G,,~N
I
HALLIBURTON
011 1~"~ -'I
(POSMIX CEMENT DATA BOOKl

0[7

,,'<-

~ 220

100

9-

..y

:>

t-

,/

0'

::;

12 0

1. Compute (T,); - T"" at the beginning of each circulation period.

1..-

320

~ ~...~<.

i sur'

U
1o\

9
II
13
DEPTH X 10-\ FT

15

17

19

FIG. 2-AVERAGE TEMPERATURE DATA FOR GULF COAST WELLS.

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

f"'.

\ ,\ \

'"

,,~

!:1

~.

x 5

-,.....,

.,O'/- _tl

CIRCULATING

_MUD _ _
TEMPERATURE

10eo

90

100

.. 4

tr

~
" "-~I'"

...

!i=''' (",0

:r

>0 ::......

I\..

">j-oo
-".
~I

'2

'\ ~ '\

0'

'2 5
x

.:g...

.........

:r 6

NQ",

~
,,~

'1'/"+

~ ["'-.... 0-9/((1,-/
60 G lJ

"""- ~~~
800~!:""

I--.

"-

.ft.o~ I:-.
~4,. 0-9+
"-9~ 0",!---

4",

"',.

9<'0

~'-..........

1~5O

-40 -30 -20 - 10

0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
EQUILIBRIUM FORMATION TEMPERATURE
MINUS CIRCULATING MUD TEMPERATURE, OF

110 120 130 140 150 IGO 170 180 190 200 210 220
TEMPERATURE, of

80

90

FIG. 4--ESTIMATED DIFFERENCE IN EQUILIBRIUM FORMATION AND

CIRCULATING-MUD TEMPERATURE, MONTANA WELL.

FIG. 3-EsTI~IATED EQUILIBRIUM FORMATIOi\ AND CIRCULATI:'iG

MUD TEMPERATURE, MONTANA WELL.

500 0

5000

6000

7000

formation temperature and circulating mud temperature

(Fig. 4).
A comparison of the calculated bore-face temperatures
with mud-column temperatures measured 4.8, 9.6 and
19 hours after mud circulation had ceased at total depth
(9,222 ft) is shown in Fig. 5. Generally, the discrepancy
between observed mud-column temperature and calculated
bore-face temperature is less than 5F. Agreement is
judged to be satisfactory for present purposes. The fact
that bottom-hole circulating temperatures were estimated
from Gulf Coast data (Fig. 2) leaves much to be desired.
The accuracy of this method would be much greater
with more accurate circulating-mud-temperature data.
Table 1 is a summary tabulation of the circulation history and calculated resultant temperature disturbances for
various radii at 8,812 ft for the example well shortly after
a total depth of 9,222 ft was reached. The contribution of
each of the several circulation periods to the total temperature disturbance can be seem from this table. The
relative influence of the last circulation period is quite
prominent at and near the wellbore; however, this prominence decreases with increased distance from the well.
The radial temperature disturbances at 9,184, 8,812 and
6,180 ft computed for shut-in times of 4.8, 9.6 arid 19
hours after total depth is reached are shown in Fig. 6. The
temperature disturbances are 1F, or less, at a distance
of 10 ft (rn ~ 30) from the wellbore. At a distance
of 5 ft from the well bore (rn ~ 15), the temperature
disturbance approximates 5F for the depth interval 8,8126,180 ft. Beyond 3 ft from the wellbore (r/J ~ 10), there
is very little difference between the temperatures at 4.8
and 19 hours after circulation ceased; however, temperatures near the bore face are much more sensitive to
shut-in time. Bore-face temperature disturbances for a

~
~

700 0

IT
lit

.~

SURVEY

I-

80eo

9000

~ I

1\

'00O-j--

~ r-

SURVEY

tll !9 HR AT 9222 FT

4.8 HR AT 9222 FT

10,000

10,00 0

10,00 0

200

160

160

200

TEMPERATURE,

TEMPERATURE, OF

TEMPERATURE, OF

'"0

OF

LEGEND
-

061- TIME AFTER CIRCuLATION CEASED

OBSERVED MUD TEMPERATURE

CALCULATED BORE-FACE TEMPERATURE

FIG. 5-COMPARISON OF OBSERVED MUD TEMPERATURE AND

CALCULATED BORE-FACE TEMPERATURE, MONTANA WELL.

shut-in time of 4.8 hours ranged from 12 to 33F in

the depth range investigated.
APPROXIMATE METHODS FOR
DETERMINING TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES
If an approximation of the temperature disturbances
will serve the purposes of a particular situation, the calculations can be greatly reduced.
APPROXIMATION OF BORE-FACE TEMPERATURES

A few hours will usually elapse between the time of

ceasing mud circulation and time of logging. During this
period, the mud-column temperatures appear to change
rapidly from the shape shown in Fig. 3 and to become
fairly linear with depth, except near total depth. Therefore,
an approximation of the bore-face temperatures in a well
in which mud circulation is closed-in can be made by the
method illustrated by Fig. 7.

TABLE l-SUMMARY TABULATION, CIRCULATION HISTORY AND CALCULATED RESULTANT TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES AT 8,812 FT, MONTANA WEll

Resultant Temperature Disturbance at Various Dimensionless

Radii 4.8 Hours after Mud Circulation Ceased at Total Depth 9,222 ft {OF}

Calculated

Drilling
Depth Interval
(ft)

Circulation
Period

Ci rcu loti ng
Time
(a)

(hours)lk

1
0
'17.3
8812-8949
21.7
8.5
2
89498997
45.0
6.7
8997-9021
3
4.3
9021
4
64.8
13.0
5
85.0
9021-9099
18.3
6
103.0
9099-9184
4.0
7
136.0
9184-9200
3.0
151.5
9200
3
9
180.5
5.0
9200-9222
Sum of Temperature Disturbances at 8,812 ft Resulting from

o:;T(O)
(bl

(cl

fD

79
79
0
36.1
40.9
77
54.6
21.4
76
52.6
23.4
76
21.1
53.9
75
37.2
35.8
73
26.3
45.7
72
27.0
45.0
72
22.1
49.8
72
All Circulation Periods (OF)

= 1

3.1
1.0
1.4
1.2
3.2
3.2
2.1
2.4
15.2
32.8

Tn = 2

3.1
1.0
1.4
1.2
3.0
3.2
2.1
2.4
13.4
30.8

Tn

3.0
1.0
1.3
1.0
2.8
3.0
1.9
2.3
9.5
25.8

TD

2.6
0.9
1.2
0.9
2.5
2.7
1.6
1.6
3.1
17.1

,rD

= 10
2.1
0.7
0.9
0.8
1.7
1.4
0.7
0.5
0.1
8.9

rD

= 20
0.7
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0
0
0
1.5

rD

= 30

0.2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.2

(a) Cumulative time of exposure to mud at beginning of circulation period (hours).

(b) Equilibrium formation temperature minus circulating mud temperature (OF).
{el Sum of residual temperature disturbances resulting from prior circulation periods {OF}.
APRIL, 1962

419

According to this method, two maximum-recording

thermometers are run during logging-one at total depth
and one some 200- to 300-ft higher. The calculation procedure is as follows.
1. Determine depth of Point X, Dx from Pig. 8. Plot
Point X.
2. Plot Point B (at total depth). Use mud temperature
from maximum-recording thermometer run at total depth
during logging.
3. Plot Point A using temperature from second thermometer run about 200-ft above Point B. If only the
thermometer at total depth was used, plot Point A at a
temperature 7P less than Point B (this is an average
figure based on experience).
4. Draw Line AX and extend to surface.
5. Draw Line AB.
Line BAXS is the approximation of the bore-face temperatures at the time of logging. Note that this is a good
approximation only if there has been no mud circulation
for a few hours prior to logging.
Computations for the example in Pig. 7 are as follows.
Given: mud temperature at total depth of 9,222 ft
183P (Point B); (Tf ), = 85 + 0.0145D.
1. Dx = 5,100 ft, from Pig. 8. Plot Point X.
2. Plot Point B at 183 P, 9,222 ft.
3. Choose DA = 9,000 ft. Plot Point A at 183 - 7
176P, since only one thermometer was run.

/"

..-/,.,

4.

The approximate bore-face temperatures are compared

with corresponding measured mud-column temperatures
in Pig. 9. In this particular example, the maximum difference between the computed and measured values is less
than SOp, except near the surface, where the mud-column
temperatures show the influence of filling the hole as the
drill pipe was pulled.
APPROXIMATION OF RADIAL FORMATION
TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES

The radial formation temperatures can be approximated

by treating the total time of exposure to drilling mud as
a single cycle of circulation and shut-in. The circulation
period is assumed to be the sum of the individual periods
of circulation. The disturbance at the end of the shut-in
period is approximated as the average of the disturbances
after shut-in times equal to (1) the sum of the individual
shut-in periods and (2) the last shut-in period. Suppose,
for instance, that 250 hours, of which 136 hours are actual
circulation time, have elapsed between the time of drilling
past the point of interest and the time of ceasing mud
circulation for logging. Also, suppose that the radial temperature distribution at 10 hours after the end of the last
0

--

25

DIMENSIONLESS RADIUS, rO

30

/
A'

DEPTH

I:

10

15

20

25

30

'"

j---

2tO

220

6180 FT

4
3

./

./

0
DEPTH

.I

)(

25

/V

2
10

15

20

DIMENSIONLESS RADIUS, rO

30
I:

35

BASIS: GULF COAST DATA

r/r.

(F1Gr E rAiD EiuATioN

LEGEND
At

I:

(i -5,

TIME AFTER CIRCULATION CEASED

-l1t-19HR
._.- t.t 9.6 HR

- - - At 4.8 HP.

FIG. 6-RADIAL TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES AT VARlOlJS

DEPTHS, MONTANA WELL.

420

190 200

;:-;,

3 50

180

I-

I5

130 140 150 [60 170

TEMPERATURE, OF

35

ffi

120

U-

~ 2

1[0

8812 FT

DIMENSIONLESS RADIUS, r 0:1 r Ir w

:;

100

""-

foB

10

"

10

I~

FIG. 7-ApPROXIMATION FOR BORE-FACE TEMPERATURES,

MONTANA WELL.

/1
1

..4"

90

""" "'-

.J--'

/~'

\
<...-:

I
I

= rlrw

--~-

1/

x~

TEMPERATURE

35

L--

I
I

80

20

1/

1\

~~V

APPROXIMATION OF BORE-FACE

10

:;;
Q

I'--

15

TIME' 51R

~UD

EQUILIBRIUM
1---, "~
FORMATI.ON TEMPERATURE

DEPTH: 9[84 FT

10

f"-,

SHUT~ IN

rrLRcJLATIING
tEMP1RATLRE
EQUAL TO FORMATION
-~f---I- TEMPERATURE

_J '\
,~+-

It

'"

Draw Lines BA and AXS.

8
TOTAL

9
10
/I
12
-3
DEPTH, DT X 10 ,FT

13

14

15

FIG. 8-DEPTH OF INTERSECTION OF CIRCULATING-MUD AND

FORMATION TEMPERATURE CURVES.

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

circulation period is desired. The total time of exposure

to drilling mud is then 260 hours. The approximate temperature distribution is determined by averaging the effects
of a 136-hour circulation period at 124 and at 10 hours
after circulation ceases.
An outline of the calculation procedure follows.
1. Determine t (the total time lapse since drilling past
the depth of interest) and tk (the sum of the individual
periods of circulation). Calculate the ratio (t - t.) It.
2. Determine the average mud circulating temperature
(T me).vg at the depth of interest, D, from*
(Tme).vg = (BHT)D + O.OI(D T - D)
where (BHT) D = bottom-hole circulating temperature at
depth D, and
DT = total depth.
3. Calculate (T,), - (Tme)avg. This temperature difference is ~T(O) on the graphs in Appendix D.
4. With the values of t k , (t - t.)lt and ~T(O) computed in Steps 1 and 3, determine the resultant temperature disturbances at various radii, ~T(rD,t), with the aid
of the graphs in Appendix D.
5. Now let the total time t equal the value of tk found
in Step 1 plus the actual shut-in time since circulation
ceased in the last period of the circulation history. Calculate the new ratio (t - t.) It.
6. With the .~T(O) determined in Step 3 and the new
ratio of (t - t k ) It, determine another set of ~T(rD,t)
values resulting from a circulation period of duration t k
7. Average the corresponding ~T(rD,t) values determined
in Steps 4 and 6. These average values will approximate
the true temperature disturbance.
8. Compute the disturbed formation temperatures, (T t ) i

of the disturbed formation temperatures, particularly in

the bottom one-third of the hole. Fig. 10 illustrates an
application of this method of approximation for the radial
temperature disturbances at 8,522 ft in the example well in
Montana, and Fig. 11 shows that the approximate radial
temperature disturbances agree closely with those calculated
by the "exact" method.
The numerical computations involved in this example
approximation are as follows.
1. From the circulation history,
t = 250 hours + 10 hours = 260 hours,
tk = 136 hours,
(t - t k ) It = 0.48.
2. (Tme).vg = 130 + 0.01(9,222 - 8,522) = 137F.
3. ~T(O) = 209 - 137 = nOF.
4. From Appendix D, after 124-hour shut-in time (OF),
for
10
20
30
3
5
rD =
~T(rD,t) = 11.9
11.7 11.1
8.4
3.2
0.8.
5. t = 136 hours + 10 hours = 146 hours,
t. = 136 hours,
(t - t.)/t = 0.069.
6. From Appendix D, after 1O-hour shut-in time CF),
for
10
20
30
5
3
rD =
O.
~T(rD,t) = 37.4
1.7
33.6 26.3 11.5
7. Average ~T(rD,t) values (OF), for
20
30
5
10
1
3
rD =
0.4.
2.4
~T(rD,t) = 24.6
22.6 18.7 10.0
CONCLUSIONS

- ~T(rD,t) avg.

1. The temperature disturbances in a formation caused

This procedure should give a reasonable approximation

"This approximating equation was derived from graphs of the type
shown in Fig. 3.
~

or------.-------------------------,

DISTURBANCE AFTER

124 HR

10

SHUT-IN TIME
...

--.

0- 0-- - - / /

c 201----79-+- 'A.PPROXIMATlON

OF ACTUAL TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCE,

130~---7+-~--~-----~i----a-f~I-'O-H--R---r----~----~

,
\
\

I-

DISTURBANCE

AFTER

SHUT-IN TIME

/ '

\
\
\

DIMENSIONLESS RADIUS, '0

\
\

\ c:

APPROXIMATION OF
~~ BORE-FACE TEMPERATURES

~
~

r trw

o
OBSERVED

;:
'"o

FIG. 10--ApPROXIMATION OF RADIAL TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES

AT 8,522 FT, MONTANA WELL.

.'ExlCT";;ETHoJ ~

10

20

l!.t

---

COMPARISON OF APPROXIMATE AND "EXACT" RADIAL

TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES AT 8~22 FEET

30

J~~

,/
.-

(APPROXIMATE METHOD

5 HR
.o.t=1O HR
180

190

TEMPERATURE, OF

FIG. 9-COMPARISON OF ORSERVED MUD TEMPERATURE AND

ApPROXIMATE BOREFACE TEMPERATURE, MONTANA WELL.

APRIL, 1962

I
10
20
DIMENSIONLESS RADIUS, 'D

25
'=

30

35

r/r w

FIG. ll-COMPARISON OF ApPROXIMATE AND "EXACT" RADIAL

TEMPERATURE DISTURBANCES AT 8,522 FT, MONTANA WELL.

421

by circulating mud can be computed from a knowledge

of the formation thermal properties, wellbore diameter,
circulating mud temperature and undisturbed formation
temperatures.
2. Additional knowledge pertaining to circulating mudcolumn temperatures will improve the accuracy of the
calculated temperatures.
3. In general, the temperature disturbances caused by
circulating mud are small beyond 10 ft from the wellbore.
Further, the magnitude of the temperature disturbances is
significant as regards electric logging only within 5 ft of
the borehole.
NOMENCLATURE
A =
B =
Cp =
D =
DT =

a constant, (hours) CF)/Btu

27rcp pr2 wh, a constant, Btuj"F
specific heat capacity, Btu/(Ib) (OF),
depth, ft
total depth
Dx = depth of intersection of circulating-mud and
formation-temperature curves
h = height, ft
K = thermal conductivity, Btu/(hours) (ft) (OF)
P(rD,tlJ ) = dimensionless-tern perature-drop function per
unit rate of heat flow
P'(rD,tD) = derivative of P(rD,tD) with respect to tv
q = heat flow rate, Btu/hour
Q = cumulative heat flow; Btu
q(tD) = dimensionless heat flow rate into well bore resulting from a unit temperature drop
Q(tJ) = dimensionless cumulative heat flow into wellbore resulting from a unit temperature drop
r = radius, ft
rD = r/r"., dimensionless radius
r w = wellbore radius, ft
t = time, hours
tn = Kt/cppr'"" dimensionless time
tk = circulating time, hours
T = temperature, OF
(T f ) i = undisturbed formation temperature (at r = (0),
OF
T me = circulating mud temperature, OF
t.T(r/J,t) = difference between undisturbed formation temperature and actual temperature at time t and
dimensionless radius rD , OF
t.T(O) = difference between undisturbed formation temperature and actual temperature at t = 0 and
rD = 1, OF
P = density, lb/cu ft
1/2nKh,

6. "Recommended Practice for Testing OilWell Cements", RP

lOB, API, Fifth Ed. (May, 1956).
7. Posmix Cement Data Book, Halliburton Co., Duncan, Okla.
8. Mortada, M.: "A Practical Method for Treating Oilfield Inter
ference in WaterDrive Reservoirs", Trans., AIME (1955)
204,217.

APPENDIX A
SOLUTION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION
The solution to the general case in which both temperature and heat flow rate at the wellbore vary with time
during mud circulation can be derived from two specialcase solutions which will be given in this Appendix.
CONSTANTTERMINAL TEMPERATURE CASE

For this case, at time zero the temperature difference

at the borehole face (rD = 1) is raised instantaneously
from zero to some value and is maintained at this value
throughout circulation. Under these conditions, it can
be shown in a manner analogous to that of van Everdingen
and Hurst' that the cumulative heat influx into the wellbore is given by
Q(t) = Bt.T(O)Q(tD)
(A-I)
where B = 27rcp pr'",h and Q(tD) is the dimensionless
cumulative heat flow into the wellbore resulting from a
unit dimensionless temperature drop. This is numerically
the same as the Q, function tabulated in Ref. 1. An
equation for Q(tD) is given in Appendix E.
CONSTANTTERMINALRATE CASE

For this case, at time zero the rate of heat flow at the
borehole face (rD = 1) is raised instantaneously from zero
to some value q(O) and is maintained at this value throughout circulation. The temperature disturbance at the borehole face is given by
(A-2)

t.T(t) = Aq(O)P(tD)

where A = I/27rKh; the function P(tn) is tabulated in Ref.

1. The temperature disturbance in the formation is given
by
(A-3)
The function P(rD,fD) is tabulated in Ref. 8 and in Appendix E.
If the rate of heat flow varies with time, application
of the principle of superposition to Eq. A-3 gives
tl!

t.T(rJ),t)

Aq(O)P(rD,t,,)

+A

P(rn,tj) -

t',,)

(A-4)
ut D
wheret.T(rD,tD) is the temperature drop at a radius I'D
and at time tD' Eq. A-4 can be approximated as
oq(t') d tn.
'
-,,-,-

t.T(rD,t)

= Aq(O)P(rD,tD) +

A~8q(t,,)P(rD,tD n

I D,,)

(A-5)
REFERENCES
1. van Everdingen, A. F. and Hurst, W.: "The Application of the
Laplace Transformation to Flow Problems in Reservoirs",
Trans., AIME (1949) 186, 305.
2. Carslaw, H. S. and Jaeger, J. c.: Conduction of Heat in Solids,
The Clarendon Press, Oxford U. (1947).
3. Somerton, W. H.: "Some Thermal Characteristics of Porous
Rocks", Trans., AIM'E (1958) 213, 365.
4. Ingersoll, L. R., Zobel, O. J. and Ingersoll, A. c.: Heat Con
duction, U. Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisc. (1954).
5. Zierfuss, H. and van der Vliet, G.: "Laboratory Measurements
of Heat Conductivity of Sedimentary Rocks", Bull., AAPG
(1956) 40, No. 10, 2475.
422

where tD
of

:> t

D ,,,

and 8q(t,,) = q(t,,) - q(t,,-l)' Substitution

t.T(O)q(tD)

Aq(l),

(A-6)

which is obtained by differentiation of Eq. A-I, leads to

Eq. 3 of the text.

APPENDIX B
APPLICATION OF THE EQUATIONS
The temperature behavior during and after mud circulation is calculated from Eq. 3 of the text. To overcome
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

the difficulty that the rate of heat flow is infinite at time

zero [q(O) = 00], the actual values of q(tD) as obtained
from equations in Appendix E are approximated by a
series of step functions. This allows a finite value ofq(tD)
to be used in each step, including that at time zero. The
values of q(tv) are chosen such that the cumulative heat
flux, as calculated from J (j(tD ) dtn , gives the correct
value for cumulative heat flux Q(tD ) as given in Appendix
E. Thus, although the initial rate of heat flow is slightly
low at time zero (it should be infinite), the correct total
cumulative heat flux is used.
The effects of approximating q(tD) in this manner were
checked by a more accurate mathematical procedure,
which is based on integration of Eq. A-4 by parts and use
of Eq. A-6 to give

~T(rD,t)
-tJ,T(O)

f qt"( t D)P (r/),I/) I

t /)

/J

(B-1 )

The integrand becomes infinite at both limits of integration. This difficulty was overcome by (1) dividing the interval of integration into two parts, (2) integrating repeatedly
by parts and (3) evaluating the resulting expressions by
polynomial approximations for q(tll) and pI (//).
Some results obtained using this method showed that
the step-function approximation method actually used was
in error by less than 1 of after shut-in. This is quite satisfactory for present purposes. The approximation used becomes more accurate the longer the flow and shut-in
periods.
The effect of stopping mud circulation at time If) is
simulated by superposing a negative value of q(tD) on
the value of q(tn) existing at that time. This gives a zero
rate of heat flow at the well bore. Problems in pressure
build-up are usually treated in this same manner.
In the application of Eq. 3, the thermal diffusivity of
the fluid-saturated formation must be known. An average
value of K/cpp = 0.0431 sq ft/hr has been estimated
for limestone, sandstone and shale from various sources'-'
by choosing K = 1.303, CII = 0.21 and p = 144. Then
tv = Kt/c ll pr 2", = O.4tJ.t for a welIbore radius of 0.329
ft (TVa -in. in diameter).

APPENDIX C

where BHT = bottom-hole circulating mud temperature

(OF). These three equations can be solved for the three
unknowns a" a, and Dx.
To use this solution it is ordinarily necessary to estimate
values of BHT from an existing correlation, such as Fig.
2. Very little data are available on circulating mud temperature.
The depth D x at which the circulating-mud temperature
curve intersects the undisturbed-formation temperature
curve can be determined from
BHT - a o ]D,x
[ 2b, -DT

(a o - ho)DT

b ,D T -r'2 (a - bo)]DJ
o

O. .

(C-5)

Fig. 3 shows estimated circulating annular mud-column

temperatures corresponding to various drilling depths for a
specific well.
If mud-discharge temperature data are unavailable, estimates can be made from information published by Halliburton' (see Fig. 2).

APPENDIX D
DIMENSIONLESS TEMPERATURE CHANGE AS A
FUNCTION OF DIMENSIONLESS SHUT-IN TIME

~'
~""'~
I'-..~~ ~~
..

""

~ '::;?z~~""-

""'-

'"'"

._-- f--

;\

~ ~~
'\:: ~~

'\~

FOR ANY OHlER EQUA1'ION 'o'C t

t;'''L'''''k

.'\:"\ ~ ~

t--TIMES GIl/EN ARE FOR '0'041,1---_

..

'j-\
~,-w

~'"
~'\: ~\ ~

"-;--,-

~"(
""'-"'0
"'
~ '' ~

SOHA

,,:J

"'o.~ ~

Ik~A~1

\~~

r0

CIRCULATING MUD TEMPERATURES

IN THE ANNULUS

It is assumed that the rising annular mud-column temperature T me can be expressed as

T""

a o + a,D

+ a,D'

(C-1 )

T"" = (tf). = bo + b,D

at some depth Dx where d(T",,)/dD

+ 2a,D x = 0,
a o + a,D x + a,D'x

O. Therefore,

= bo

+ b,DJ

(C-2)
(C-3 )

and, at total depth DO',

ao + a,D T
Al'RIL, 1962

+ a,D',.

4~\iI

-tl!;'2SHR

-"\\'

,.~
~~

"'~

" ~

~~

(C-4)

I~

!O 4/C' Jl

"

0
(I-'k)

SHUT-INTI"'!

-t-:~

'\~

I
0

BHT.

l..

~~
~~

FOR ANY OTHER EQUATION '0'(; I

~~
~ ~~

r-TIMES GIVEN ARE FOR '0'0.41,

{/t

f-

" 'II ,
-".-';';1
"

, "~
,

k''':~
-"

where a o = surface discharge temperature (OF), a, and a,

are constants, and D = depth (ft). This equation can be
evaluated by using bottom-hole drilling circulating-mud
temperature data published by the API: mud-discharge
temperature measurements at the surface and the assumption that

: I

"
423

~~

TlMESGIVEN.lREfOAt

"

I~

"

0.'
(I-'k)

:~I~ o. ,

"

;:: <l
<l

I~~~

"
I.'

I
"0+",

i"

J'\.~

,,,,-,,,,

"0 ~

~~

I~' (0 "Ie'] 'k

~~
f'\

'"

"

"T

"

"-;

",

~"'It

0'

1\

o.

TIMES GIVEN ARE FOR '0' 0.41

"-i

,,-

-"'t::-

f - - - - - - j - - - - r O R ANY OTHEI't (QUATION '0' C

''''''

t k.'SOHR-1

- Pr

o.

., ::~

0 os

""

II
I

,!+

r-- R:

~'k

fORAMVOTH(RfOUAT'ONIO'C!

..... r----..

.......

nilES GlYEN.IIREFORIO'O",'.

')!,:(04/CJt k

..
~

"."
'"'' '" '0' '0'0.<1
rOA ANY OTHER (HI"TlOli I~' c' I
I -'OMit

'

1 II
1 ill

"

SHUT-IN TIME

-,-:::~

, (0 4/C') 'II

O.OS

-.. ---

...

..

;~

o ,o14f

FOR ANY OTHER (QUAT ION '0' C',

.. ~.......... r--....

'0

.1 I
,-:t'II

I~' 10 4/e')

o,~---~-----t---r--r~r-~~t-r;

"'-20~
1'0
<l

_SOHA

(t-'k)

(I-II<.

SHUT-INTI"E

"""""I=~

SHUT-IN TIME

ro

-,-=~

=10

I II
I'ZOOOKR

l-

.,

.""

TUH

ro=20

-I~

:;.Q

I
."y OTIIE~

I
I
I
I
e +--+---r-+-.-1.11--j/\"'>1

r-----

filliES GIVE" AR FOR '0'0.41,

OOlf---------jFOR

[OUUION '0'

<]-

1~'(M/e'ltk

~.......l

..

~"" ~,
"'''''''o~%+",
<'00'0

"

"

i'-

"-"''-"'\ ~~

....

~OR Arty OlllER EOUATION '0' c',

I I I ' l l ,;",-,,,'''.

II II
IIII

I
I

".

r'Ii

.~

"

'0 =10

t---..

'\

~~

I~ '10."/<:') tk

"

~~
f'\~

,..

{1-tk).SHI.lT-IMTIIIE

~~

~,,-,\

'"

~~

0.41

,o.e'!

TIIoIESGIVENAREFORio'OA!

OOOl

to'

l"-

ARE FOR

."""
"" ,~"
"",,"

GI~EN

V~;0;

,I

~= S::~~~"r;~:E

0001
0.01

TIMES

'OI'lANVOlKEI'IEQUUION

~
,,,,,

,
S~UT-'It

(f-I )
k

-.-=~

r--

Ii

"

"

-.--~

424

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

APPENDIX E
NUMERICAL VALUES OF UNIT FUNCTIONS

TABLE El-EQUATIONS FOR APPROXIMATE NUMERICAL VALUE OF UNIT FUNCTIONS

limits

Function

0.01 < to < 500

370.529JfD 137.582t D 5.69549t DJfD

p' (t D)

0.01 < tD < 500

P' (t or

to

tD

I I [I

I. 19328t o

4000
3000
2000
1500
1000
750
500
400
300
200
150
100
75
50
40
30
20
15
10
7.5
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.75
0.50
0;40
0.30
0.20
0.15
0.10

APRIL, 1962

0.00855294t~
0.02

0.07

In tD

43.5537JfD

13.3813t D

0.492949t DJfD

0.01

47.4210JfD. 35'5372tD + 2.60967t oJfD

3.90086 + 2.02623t D(ln tD - I)
t D ( In t D )"

TABLE E2-TABLE OF
rD

0.269872t DJfD

I 0.616599JfD + 0.0413008t o

:II

ro 3

3.8591
3.4538
3.7155
3.3102
3.1079
3.5131
3.3697
2.9645
3.1677
2.7627
2.6197
3.0245
2.8231
2.4187
2.7125
2.3083
2.1664
2.5702
1.9674
2.3103
2.2293
1.8272
2.0317
1.6313
1.8927
1.4940
1.3035
1.6991
1.2007
1.5939
1.4600
1.0706
0.8940
1.2755
0.7732
1.1482
0.9751
0.6133
0.8576
0.5080
0.3737
0.7011
0.3077
0.6200
0.5217
0.2319
0.1442
0.3960
O. 1003
0.3169
0.04772
0.2204
0.1634
0.02581
0.09938 0.00865.
0.07212 0.00410
0.04485 0.00127
0.01973 0.00015
0.00957 0.00002
0.00263

0.08

0.05

-4.29881 + 2.02566t D

200

t D !!. 200

to

0.01

4t D

- - In t 0.40454
2t 0
2t ~ 2
0

500

0.01 < tD < 200

q(t D)

.....!.-

716.441 46.7984JfD 270.038t D + 71 .~098toJt;

26.7544

q (t D)

1269.86JfD. 1204.73t D + 618.618t o JfD + 538.072t~ + 142.410t~JfD

0.01 < tD < 200

Q(t 0)

~)
2t D

1
-2 In t D + 0.40454) [I +

I . I 2838JfD

Q(t D)

0.08

328.834 + 265.488JfD 45.2157t D tDJfD

P(rn, ID)

0.05

VALUES

= 20

rD 5

rD' 8

ro = 10

r D = 15

ro

2.9434
2.8000
2.5980
2.4550
2.2537
2. 1114
1.9115
1.8021
I.MI7
1.4658
1.3285
1.1385
1.0068
0.8274
0.7326
0.6154
0.4624
0.3643
0.2441
0.1734
0.09613
0.06490
0.03568
0.01223
0.00461
0.00077
0.00014
0.00001

2.4746
2.3315
2.1304
1.9881
1.7885
1.6477
1.4509
1.3437
1.2072
1.0187
0.8887
0.7127
0.5946
0.4405
0.3634
0.2736
0.1682
O. 1100
O. 05206
0.02660
0.00787
0.00337
0.00088
0.00007
0.00001

2.2526
2.1099
1.9095
1.7679
1.5697
1.4303
1.2364
1,1314
0.9982
0.8164
0.6929
0.5291
0.4224
0.2888
0.2252
0.1552
0.08081
0.04515
0.01579
0.00603
0.00101
0.00029
0.00004

1.8510
1.7095
1.5117
1.3726
1.1794
1.0449
0.8606
0.7626
0.6408
0.4806
0.3771
0.2492
0.1748
0.09092
0.06120
0.03183
0.00966
0.00320
0.00041
0.00006

1.5687
1.4290
1.2347
1.0991
0.9126
0.7848
0.6132
0.5242
0.4168
0.2826
0.2021
0.1124
0.06692
0.02602
0.01356
0.00486
0.00071
0.00012

rD

= 30

1.1785
1.0438
0.8591
0.7330
0.5647
0.4539
0.3140
0.2466
0.1716
0.09061
0.05111
0.01806
0.00691
0.00115
0.00032
0.00004

425

TABLE E3-TABLE OF P'(rD, to) VALUES

to

,. 0

=2

1" 0

= 3

3000
2000
1500
1000
750
500
400
300
200
150
100
75
50
40
30
20
15
10
7.5
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.75
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.15
0.10

426

1"0

1" 0

1"0

10

1"

= 15

1"0

= 20

1"0

30

-----

,._--------

0.000172
0.000247
0.000335
0.000503
0.000669
0.000999
0.001244
0.001658
0.002477
0.003289
0.004894
0.006469
0.009536
0.011771
0.015474
0.022554
0.029306
0.041937
0.053606
0.074669
0.088776
O. 109950
0.145349
0.173536
0.214984
0.241447
0.268531
0.274132
0.266482
0.224850
0.176013
0.097309

0.000172
0.000247
0.000328
0.000492
0.000655
0.000985
0.001229
0.001627
0.002420
0.003206
0.004755
0.006276
0.009240
0.011392
0.014739
0.021278
0.027165
0.037743
0.046883
0.061798
0.070565
0.082945
0.085277
0.101189
0.096057
0.080428
0.053235
0.037050
0.019099
0.004586
0.001173

0.000172
0.000246
0.000328
0.000490
0.000653
0.000977
0.001217
0.001608
0.002379
0.003130
0.004594
0.005989
0.008606
0.010421
0.013165
0.017851
0.021601
0.026859
0.029910
0.031625
0.030712
0.027195
0.018497
0.011456
0.003977
0.001446

0.000171
0.000245
0.000326
0.000485
0.000644
0.000960
0.00 1189
0.001559
0.002273
0.002950
0.004194
0.005309
0.007173
0.008299
0.009750
0.011407
0.011889
0.0 II 005
0.009133
0.005452
0.003472
0.001540
0.000521

0.000170
0.000244
0.000324
0.000482
0.000637
0.000943
0.001164
0.001517
0.002178
0.OQ2789
0.003851
0.004736
0.006049
0.006699
0.007331
0.007439
0.006728
0.004703
0.002971
0.001034
0.000454

0.000168
0.000241
0.000317
0.000468
0.000613
0.000887
0.001080
0.001372
0.001877
0.002297
0.002818
0.003293
0.003067
0.003020
0.002685
0.001637
0.000906
0.00C248

0.000165
0.000236
0.000309
0.000449
0.000579
0.000816
0.000970
0.001192
0.001517
0.001722
0.001849
0.001789
0.001397
0.001073
0.000641
0.00021 I

0.000158
0.000222
0.000285
0.000398
0.000493
0.000638
0.000713
0.000791
0.000819
0.000751
0.000535
0.000340
0.000 119
0.000051

JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY