Filter press

Drilling Fluids & Logging

A filter press is used to measure the filtration properties of the drilling mud. It simulates the loss of fluid filtrate into a porous formation by applying pressure (100 psi) to a mud sample against a filter paper for 30 minutes.

The result is two-fold: the volume of liquid lost (filtrate volume) and the thickness of the solid cake left behind (filter cake). A thin, impermeable filter cake is desirable to stabilize the wellbore and prevent differential sticking, while excessive fluid loss can damage the formation production potential.