Influence of Clay Content and Surfactant on the Rheology of Non Aqueous Drilling Fluids

Abstract

Organophilic clays are widely used in non-aqueousdrilling fluids, mixtures of different components being used in a well bore. As bentonite claysare not naturally organophilic, they can be modified by specific treatments with surfactants (ionic or nonionic). Recent studies demonstrate the influence of clay, surfactant,and the presence of a dispersant in the rheology of fluids. In this study we verified the influence of clay, and surfactant in the production of organophilic clays using an alcoholic route for the rheology of non-aqueous fluids.As such, we performed the characterization of organophilic clays by X-ray diffraction (XRD),these non-aqueous fluids were produced according to Petrobras norms for rheological testing. The results evidenced influences of the clay / surfactant ratio on the rheology of non-aqueous drilling fluids.