1. n. [Drilling Fluids]
A test for water mud or oil mud, generally known as the retort test. Proper procedures for retort tests have been published by API. The test is a distillation of a mud sample that measures condensed oil and water collected from the retort. Data obtained are
Retort solids is the volume that was not recovered as a liquid. Three sizes of retort apparatus are available: 10-, 20-, and 50-cm3 mud sample size. Some designs have a small oven in the carrying case to heat the sample (the preferred method for oil muds), while others use a blade heater that goes into the mud sample. Retorts should be heated to around 700 degF [371 degC] to be effective.
Synonyms: retort test
See: barite, bentonite, chloride test, dissolved solids, hematite, oil content, oil-water interface, oil/brine ratio, oil/water ratio, suspended solids, synthetic/brine ratio, total solids
