Evaluating the rheological property of Irvingia gabonensis and Abelmoschus esculentus as a substitute to conventional Pac-R on cutting carrying capacity and hole cleaning

K K Ihekoronye,N C Izuwa,S T Ekwueme,R C Amaefula,N U Okereke

doi:10.1007/s13202-019-00798-z

K K Ihekoronye, N C Izuwa + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-00798-z

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Abstract

In this work, experiment was carried out resulting in the utilization of local viscosifiers as substitute to conventional method (PAC-R) for hole cleaning purposes in drilling mud. The proposed viscosifiers are Irvingia gabonensis (Ogbono) and Abelmoschus esculentus (Okro) as alternative to the imported poly-anionic cellulose-regular (PAC-R) which is used in cutting carrying capacity efficiency. Laboratory tests were carried out on the proposed viscosifiers to evaluate their rheological properties. Slip velocity, annular velocity, shear stress, shear rate and cuttings transport efficiency on hole cleaning parameters were calculated to ascertain the effectiveness of the proposed viscosifiers in comparison with the conventional one (PAC-R). The results of the study showed that the proposed viscosifiers Sample B Irvingia gabonensis (Ogbono) had cutting carrying capacity of 96% for 5, 8, 10 and 15 (g), respectively. However, Sample C Abelmoschus esculentus (Okro) had 96% for 5 g and 8 g and 95% for 10 g and 15 g on the cutting transport efficiency. Based on the result of this work, the proposed viscosifiers compared favorably to that of PAC-R on hole cleaning and cutting carrying capacity.

Highlights

Drilling fluids play a crucial role in carrying out the drilled cuttings and to lubricate the bits for fast and effective penetration into the formation
The following conclusions can be drawn from this research study: (i) The local viscosifiers Irvingia gabonensis (Ogbono) and Abelmoschus esculentus (Okro) formulated mud were suitable for hole drilling because of the temperature range of 150–250 °F used in this study
(iii) The proposed viscosifiers have higher transport efficiency especially Sample B (Irvingia gabonensis) followed by Sample C (Abelmoschus esculentus) which was an indication of good cutting carrying capacity

Summary

Introduction

Drilling fluids play a crucial role in carrying out the drilled cuttings and to lubricate the bits for fast and effective penetration into the formation. Cuttings removal is a function of the mud rheology, wellbore size and the subsurface conditions prevailing while drilling (Ozbayoglu 2007; Igwilo and Zaka 2014). Drilling mud must have high cutting carrying capacity and hole cleaning capability (Baroid 2006). Poor hole cleaning challenges include excessive pull on trips, hole pack-off, excessive equivalent circulating density (ECD), formation break down, slow rate of penetration and difficulty in removing casing (Dosunmu et al 2012). The difficulty in removing cuttings is caused by the interaction of the drilling mud with the cuttings bed to form cutting bed gel (Noah 2013)

Literature review

Methodology

Experimental procedure

Discussion of result

Findings

Conclusion