Micronized calcium carbonate to enhance water-based drilling fluid properties

Advanced drilling technique requires competent drilling fluids. This study tests micronized calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a water-based drilling fluid (WBDF) additive. CaCO3 microparticles were extracted from Aruma formation outcrop and studied for structural, colloidal stability, morphology, and particle size distribution. WBDF systems were prepared with varying quantities of CaCO3 microparticles, including 0, 15, 30, and 45 lb/bbl, respectively. The addition of CaCO3 microparticles was investigated in terms of the rheological, high pressure-high temperature (HPHT) filtration, barite sagging, density, and pH. The results showed that CaCO3 microparticles are stable at a pH greater than 8. Moreover, fluid containing CaCO3 microparticles exhibited an enhancement in rheological properties. The yield point increased by 29%, 34%, and 37% for 15, 30, and 45 lb/bbl of CaCO3 respectively. In addition, the HPHT filtration also showed that CaCO3 has a significant improvement in both filtration loss and filter cake thickness. The filter cake thickness decreased by 17%, 40%, and 65% at 15, 30, and 45 lb/bbl of CaCO3 respectively. Static and dynamic sag maintained in a safe range at 30 lb/bbl of CaCO3 microparticles. This study showed that using CaCO3 microparticles along with conventional fluid additives improved the thermal stability and rheological properties of drilling fluid.

Nano-laponite/polymer composite as filtration reducer on water-based drilling fluid and mechanism study

In drilling deep complex formations, most drilling fluid additives have insufficient temperature and salt tolerance, resulting in the decline of drilling fluid performance. This study used 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylamide, dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride and modified nano-laponite to synthesize a nanocomposite filtrate reducer (ANDP) with excellent temperature and salt resistance, which can maintain the performance of drilling fluid. The structure of ANDP was analysed by a transmission electron microscope and an infrared spectrometer. The thermal stability of ANDP was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The performance of ANDP was evaluated in a water-based drilling fluid. The mechanism was analysed per clay particle size distribution, Zeta potential, filter cake permeability and scanning electron microscopy imaging. The results show that ANDP has good thermal stability and the expected molecular structure. The filtration of freshwater drilling fluid after ageing at 200°C is 10.4 ml and that of saturated brine drilling fluid is 6.4 ml after ageing at 150°C. Mechanism analysis suggests that the ANDP increases the thickness of clay particle hydration layer and maintains the colloidal stability of the drilling fluid. ANDP inhibits the agglomeration of clay particles and significantly reduces the filtration by forming dense mud cake.

Recent Advances of Graphene-Derived Nanocomposites in Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Nanocomposite materials have distinctive potential for various types of captivating usage in drilling fluids as a well-designed solution for the petroleum industry. Owing to the improvement of drilling fluids, it is of great importance to fabricate unique nanocomposites and advance their functionalities for amplification in base fluids. There is a rising interest in assembling nanocomposites for the progress of rheological and filtration properties. A series of drilling fluid formulations have been reported for graphene-derived nanocomposites as additives. Over the years, the emergence of these graphene-derived nanocomposites has been employed as a paradigm to formulate water-based drilling fluids (WBDF). Herein, we provide an overview of nanocomposites evolution as engineered materials for enhanced rheological attributes in drilling operations. We also demonstrate the state-of-the-art potential graphene-derived nanocomposites for enriched rheology and other significant properties in WBDF. This review could conceivably deliver the inspiration and pathways to produce novel fabrication of nanocomposites and the production of other graphenaceous materials grafted nanocomposites for the variety of drilling fluids.

Modification of rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based mud for drilling oil and gas wells using green SiO2@ZnO@Xanthan nanocomposite

In this study, a green, simple and economical approach was used to synthesise the SiO2@ZnO@Xanthan nanocomposite (NC) to modify the rheological and filtration characteristics of the water-based drilling mud. The green synthesised NCs were identified using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis analytical techniques. Additionally, the effect of SiO2@ZnO@Xanthan NCs on the filtration and rheological properties of mud including apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, mud cake and fluid loss was investigated. The obtained results confirmed that the synthesised NCs effectively improved the rheological properties of drilling mud, and considerably decreased its fluid loss and filter cake by about 54 and 92.5%, respectively. The results highly recommend the SiO2@ZnO@Xanthan NC as an excellent additive to improve the rheological properties, and reduce the fluid loss and the filter cake of the drilling mud.