A comprehensive empirical, analytical and tomographic investigation on rheology and formation damage behavior of a novel nano-modified invert emulsion drilling fluid

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the rheological behaviors of one the most common drilling fluids in oil and gas industry known as the invert oil emulsions (W/O), specially, in addition of the carbon-based nanomaterials. The W/O fluid samples and a range of modified Multi-Walled carbon NanoTube (MWNT) additives were prepared and analyzed based on well-known rheological models, such as, the Carreau model in several temperatures. The subsequent formation damage was studied on selected core samples using the Computed Tomography (CT) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging techniques. In summary, the drilling fluid sample behaviors are well-matched with the Carreau model and it has been shown that the nanomaterial additives are highly efficient in significant improvement of the critical rheological properties. The latest was well verified and supported through comparison of the fluid sample’s pre- and post-damaged CT and SEM images.