Technology Focus: Drilling and Completion Fluids (November 2020)

Abstract

This year marks the end of my third term as the Drilling and Completion Fluids reviewer on the JPT Editorial Review Board, and this is my final column in that capacity. The journey has been an amazing one. It is no secret that nanomaterial is useful in many applications. Its application in drilling fluids is well documented. Nanomaterial exhibits many attractive and unique properties such as the ability to improve mudcake quality, reduce mud-filtrate loss and friction, eliminate differential pipe sticking, maintain bore-hole stability, protect the reservoir, and enhance hydrocarbon recovery. Recent research indicates great interest in the use of nanocomposite in drilling fluids. Several researchers are working on formulating various types of nanocomposites to improve functionality and strengthen base fluids. Nanocomposite refers to multiphase solid material in which one of the phases has one, two, or three dimensions of less than 100 nm, or in which structures having nanoscale repeat distances between the different phases making up the material. There is a growing interest in using nanocomposites to improve drilling-fluid rheology. In recent years, an additive derived from a sequence of graphene-based materials has been reported. The progress of these graphene derivatives has been used as a paradigm for water-based drilling fluids. The evolution of these engineered nanocomposites enhances drilling attributes by providing enriched rheology and other significant properties. Simultaneously, it is equally crucial to produce various nanomaterials from low-cost and eco-friendly sources.