Buoyancy Factor

In well drilling, the buoyancy factor, abbreviated as BF, a dimensionless number, is used to account for the buoyant effect of the drilling fluid on the drill string, casing, and other downhole equipment.  The buoyant force reduces the effective weight of the drill string in the wellbore, affecting both the load on the drilling rig and the downhole equipment's behavior.

Buoyancy Factor Index

• Bouyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;lbm/gal\)) Formula
• Bouyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;lbf/ft^3\)) Formula
• Bouyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;kg/l\)) Formula

 

Buoyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;lbm/gal\)) formula
\( BF \;=\;   65.5 - MW  \;/\; 65.5 \)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( BF \) = buoyancy factor	\(dimensionless\)	-
\( MW \) = mud weight (ppg)	\( lbf\;/\;gal \)	-

    

Buoyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;lbf/ft^3\)) formula
\( BF \;=\;   489 - MW  \;/\; 489 \)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( BF \) = buoyancy factor	\(dimensionless\)	-
\( MW \) = mud weight	\( lbf\;/\;ft^3 \)	-

   

Buoyancy Factor (Mud Weight \(\;kg/l\)) formula
\( BF \;=\;   7.85 - MW  \;/\; 7.85 \)
Symbol	English	Metric
\( BF \) = buoyancy factor	-	\(dimensionless\)
\( MW \) = mud weight	-	\( kg\;/\;l \)