Abstract
Several borehole problems are encountered during drilling a well due to improper mud design. These problems are directly associated with the rheological and filtration properties of the fluid used during drilling. Thus, it is important to investigate the mud rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based drilling muds (WBMs). Several materials have been examined but due to the higher temperature conditions of wells, such materials have degraded and lost their primary functions. In this research, an attempt was made to prepare a water-based mud by utilizing graphene nano platelets (GNP) in addition to the native tapioca starch at different ratios. The combined effect of starch and graphene nano platelets has been investigated in terms of mud’s rheological and filtration parameters, including its plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), fluid loss volume (FLV) and filtercake thickness (FCT). The morphological changes in the filtercake have also been observed using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) micrographs. Plastic viscosity was increased from 18–35 cP, 22–31 cP and 21–28 cP for 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F, respectively. The yield point was also enhanced from 22–37 lb/100ft2, 26–41 lb/100ft2 and 24–31 lb/100ft2 at the studied range. The fluid loss was dramatically reduced from 14.5–6.5 mL, 17.3–7.5 mL and 36–9.5 mL at 68 °F, 250 °F and 300 °F respectively. Similarly, filtercake thickness was also reduced which was further illustrated by filtercake morphology.
Highlights
The exploration and production (E&P) industry is looking for new resources in unexplored regions and deeper formations to cater to the increasing demand for oil and gas
The mud properties affect the efficiency of the drilling operation and should handle the bottom hole high pressure high temperature (HPHT) conditions
The key to achieving appropriate rheological and filtration characteristics for muds subjected to high temperatures is to maintain the bentonite dispersion, which requires the use of suitable dispersants
Summary
The success of any drilling operation is dependent on the proper design of the drilling mud used. It is a circulating fluid used in rotary drilling to deliver various functions. Rheological and filtration characteristics of water-based muds are very important to maintain during drilling operations. Bentonite is added to drilling fluids for improving the rheological properties and reducing the filtrate loss by forming a filtercake with reduced permeability. Because montmorillonitic clays have the greatest swelling capacity (inducing viscosity and the formation of low permeability filter cakes), the presence of other components in significant amounts can degrade the quality of the bentonite. The key to achieving appropriate rheological and filtration characteristics for muds subjected to high temperatures is to maintain the bentonite dispersion, which requires the use of suitable dispersants. Some thermally stable polymers or other additives are added into the mud system to keep the particles dispersed in the solution
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