Petroleum & Drilling

Intermediate

Buoyancy Factor

Reduction in a steel pipe string's weight when submerged in drilling mud.

Formula

BF = 1 - \frac{MW}{65.5}

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Variables

BFBuoyancy factor

MWMud weight (ppg)

Example

MW=12 ppg: BF = 1 - 0.183 = 0.817

Did You Know?

The number 65.5 is the density of steel in ppg; heavier mud floats the pipe string more.

petroleum buoyancy pipe

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