Abstract

Since almost all drilling problems directly or indirectly relate to drilling fluid, improvement in drilling fluid significantly enhances drilling operations. Drilling fluid contains base fluid, suspended solid particles and chemicals. Recently, nanoparticles have been widely recommended for improvement in drilling fluid properties. The main purpose of this study was to improve the rheological and filtration properties of water-based drilling fluid through adding new additive carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC)/polystyrene core–shell nanocomposite. It compares filtration and rheological behavior of CMC, nanoCMC and core–shell nanocomposite. The core–shell nanocomposite was synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization method, and nanoCMC and core–shell nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer and thermogravimetric analysis. Fluid loss, mud cake thickness, viscosity, weight and pH of drilling fluid with core–shell nanocomposite additive were compared with conventional CMC (bulk CMC) and nanoCMC particles. Results showed a significant decrease in mud cake thickness and fluid loss when the core–shell nanocomposite was used, as compared with conventional CMC and nanoCMC. Viscosity of three additives has same trend with insignificant change while less yield point is obtained for drilling fluid containing core–shell nanocomposites. Mud weight and pH were almost the same for all three additives. Thus, the core–shell nanocomposite can be an alternative additive to control mud cake thickness and fluid loss while maintaining other main properties in an acceptable range.

Highlights

  • Drilling fluid has many key functions in drilling operations, and almost all problems encountered in drilling operations are directly or indirectly related to drilling fluid properties (Adams 1985; Chilingarian and Vorabutr 1983; Patel 1998; Plank and Gossen 1991)

  • Change in main drilling fluid properties as a result of addition of nanoCMC and core–shell nanocomposite is compared with bulk carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) as described in the previous section

  • Core–shell nanocomposites were synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization method and characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), TEM, particle size analyzer (PSA) and TGA

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Summary

Introduction

Drilling fluid has many key functions in drilling operations, and almost all problems encountered in drilling operations are directly or indirectly related to drilling fluid properties (Adams 1985; Chilingarian and Vorabutr 1983; Patel 1998; Plank and Gossen 1991). Optimum selection of drilling fluid is a key factor in minimizing drilling time and cost. Nanotechnology Research Institute, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. EOR/IOR Research Institute, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (Mokhtari and Ozbayoglu 2010; ‎Salih et al 2016). Development of high performance and more environmental friendly water base fluids are desirable (Salih et al 2016). Water-based drilling fluid mainly consists of water as base fluid, inert and reactive solids as additives which still has many disadvantages including shale instability, formation damage, poor cake properties and high fluid loss; recently, nanowater-based fluid has been proposed by several researchers for overcoming related issues in drilling fluid such as reducing tor and drag, controlling fluid loss, minimizing formation damage, improving wellbore stability and subsequently improving drilling performance.

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