1. n. [Drilling]

The temperature of the circulating fluid (air, mud, cement or water) at the bottom of the wellbore after several hours of circulation. This temperature is lower than the bottomhole static temperature. Therefore, in extremely harsh environments, a component or fluid that would not ordinarily be suitable under bottomhole static conditions may be used with great care in circulating conditions. Similarly, a high-temperature well may be cooled down in an attempt to allow logging tools to function. The BHCT is also important in the design of operations to cement casing because the setting time for cement is temperature-dependent. The BHCT and bottomhole static temperature (BHST) are important parameters when placing large volumes of temperature-sensitive treatment fluids.

Alternate Form: bottomhole circulating temperature