Dynamic and Static Fluid Loss Properties of Novel Starches Prepared using Reactive Extrusion Technique

Abstract

Abstract Several novel fluid loss additives have been developed using agricultural resources grown in Australia. The fluid loss controlling performance of the novel mud additives were evaluated and compared with the fluid loss controlling performance of a widely used modified starch. The evaluation of the effect of starch concentration on the fluid loss behaviour of water-based muds indicates a working concentration range of 2-8 ppb for most of the novel starch products for different level of fluid loss control. Experimental results indicate that some of the newly developed starches show static and dynamic fluid loss characteristics similar to or better than the static and dynamic fluid loss characteristic of a widely used modified starch used by the mud industry. The static fluid loss properties measured after thermal treatment at different temperatures indicate that the newly developed starch products can be used as fluid loss additives for drilling boreholes having bottom hole temperature up to 150°C. The dynamic fluid loss property of the novel starches measured at 80°C thermal condition indicate that the newly developed products have similar or better dynamic fluid loss control properties than the currently used modified starch.