Synthesis and identification of ZnTiO3 nanoparticles as a rheology modifier additive in water-based drilling mud

Abstract

Performing drilling operations to explore and exploit oil and gas reservoirs by injection wells is one of the most essential pillars of the oil industry. Hence, the improvement of drilling mud properties has a particular role. In this research, a laboratory study was carried out on the effect of nano additive on rheological properties of drilling mud. The ZnTiO3 nanoparticles were synthesized and analyzed by XRD, EDX, and SEM to identify and verify the structure of particles in the nanoscale. Then, the effect of adding nanoparticles to water-base mud is discussed. To determine the rheological behavior of the mud, the viscosity tests were applied. To study the operational conditions on the performance of mud containing nanoparticles, the rheological tests were performed on samples containing 0, 0.5, and 1 wt% of ZnTiO3 nanoparticles in the presence of 0, 2, 4 wt% of KCl salt at 25 °C and 90 °C. The results indicated that the addition of 1 wt% ZnTiO3 nanoparticles, even in the presence of 2 and 4% salt, could increase water-based mud viscosity up to 34.88% and 37.73%, at 25 °C and 32.16% and 30.76% at 90 °C, respectively. It was well able to maintain the shear-thinning behavior of mud contained nanoparticles at different shear rates. The optimum sample was finalized based on a rheological study with 5 wt% bentonite, 2 wt% salt, and 1 wt% ZnTiO3 nanoparticles. Performing filtration test on the optimal sample, using a filter press machine based on the American Petroleum Association Standard, it was confirmed that the addition of 1 wt% ZnTiO3 nanoparticles to mud was reduced the volume of fluid loss by about 7.7%. Finally, all results of mud samples viscosity were fitted with plastic Bingham, Herschel-Bulkley, and Power-law models. Through Herschel-Bulkley, and Power-law models could reasonably predict the rheological behavior of mud contained nanoparticles.