High Pressure And High Temperature Research Articles

Overcoming strength-ductility tradeoff with high pressure thermal treatment

Conventional material processing approaches often achieve strengthening of materials at the cost of reduced ductility. Here, we show that high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) treatment can help overcome the strength-ductility trade-off in structural materials. We report an initially strong-yet-brittle eutectic high entropy alloy simultaneously doubling its strength to 1150 MPa and its tensile ductility to 36% after the HPHT treatment. Such strength-ductility synergy is attributed to the HPHT-induced formation of a hierarchically patterned microstructure with coherent interfaces, which promotes multiple deformation mechanisms, including dislocations, stacking faults, microbands and deformation twins, at multiple length scales. More importantly, the HPHT-induced microstructure helps relieve stress concentration at the interfaces, thereby arresting interfacial cracking commonly observed in traditional eutectic high entropy alloys. These findings suggest a new direction of research in employing HPHT techniques to help develop next generation structural materials.

Dynamic simulation of double-cased perforation in deepwater high temperature and high-pressure oil and gas wells

In order to ensure the penetrability of double-cased perforation in offshore oil and gas fields and to maximize the capacity of perforation completion, This study establishes a dynamic model of double-cased perforation using ANSYS/LS-DYNA simulation technology. The combination of critical perforation parameters for double casing is obtained by studying the influencing factors of the jet-forming process, perforation depth, diameter, and stress changes of the inner and outer casing. The single-target perforation experiments under high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) conditions and ground full-scale ring target perforation tests are designed to verify the accuracy of numerical simulation results. The reduced factor is adopted as the quantitative measure of perforation depth and diameter for different types of perforation charge under different conditions. The results show that the perforation depth reduction increases with temperature and pressure, and the reduced factor is between 0.67–0.87 under HTHP conditions of 130 °C/44 MPa and 137 °C/60 MPa. Comparing the results of the numerical simulation and the full-scale test correction, the maximum error is less than 8.91%, and this numerical simulation has strong reliability. This research provides a basis for a reasonable range of double-cased perforation parameters and their optimal selection.

High-pressure induces topology boosting thermoelectric performance of Bi2Te3

Decoupling conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) by electronic topological transitions (ETT) under high pressure (2–4 GPa) is a promising method for bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) to optimize thermoelectric (TE) performance. However, the S cannot dramatically increase with increasing σ when ETT occurs in Bi2Te3, which impedes optimizing TE performance by utilizing ETT in Bi2Te3. A new strategy of enhanced ETT by combining lattice distortions and high pressure is proposed in this work. The lattice distortions in Bi2Te3 were introduced by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) treatment to generate surplus dislocations. The in-situ measurements of σ and S at HPHT in Bi2Te3 with lattice distortions show an enhanced ETT effect at 2 GPa, which causes decouple σ and S with an anomalous increase in its |S| about 22%. The ETT effect causes the figure of merit ( ZT ) of Bi2Te3 can be improved to 0.275 at 1.50–2.62 GPa, 460 K, it is more than 62% compared with 0.79 GPa, at 450 K. The excellent TE performance of Bi2Te3 arising from the lattice distortions can result in local non-hydrostatic pressure which enhances ETT under high pressure. This work provides a new strategy to enhance ETT to decouple σ and S , and search for better TE materials from the pressure dimension in the future.

Effects of compressive cyclic loading on the fatigue properties of oil-well cement slurries serving in deep downhole environments

With the increasing demand for energy from deep oil and gas reservoirs, oil-well cement slurries are subjected to complex compressive cyclic loading in high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) environments. Currently, no standard to guide the evaluation of the fatigue performance of cement slurries under cyclic loading or a systematic investigation to help understand it exists. To fill this gap, this study used a set of innovative HTHP curing and testing devices to mimic the actual operating conditions of deep wells. Cement slurries were cast, cured, and subjected to quasi-static and cyclic loading tests at four downhole temperatures (25, 90, 115, and 140 °C). In the cyclic-loading tests, three loading levels (30%, 50%, and 70%) under 20 MPa confining pressure were applied to study the fatigue performance, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was employed to identify internal microcrack damage. When the downhole temperature increased from 25 to 140 °C and the cyclic loading level increased from 30% to 70%, the accumulated plastic strain of samples increased by 13.8 times. A large increase in the plastic strain of oil-well cement slurries can significantly reduce the fatigue resistance and service life of oil and gas wells. Based on this research, the authors propose the addition of compressive cyclic loading tests (particularly under HTHP testing conditions) to the current oil-well cement slurry testing standards, which will be very significant for the fatigue performance evaluation of cement slurries used in HTHP environments in deep wells.

Effect of waste clay brick powder on microstructure and properties in blended oil well cement pastes at HTHP conditions

The use of waste materials to improve the thermal stability of oil well cement (OWC) at high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) conditions has received increasing attention. This study investigated the performance of sustainable blended OWC pastes by recycling waste clay brick powder (CBP) as a partial substitute for commercial high temperature resistant additives (silica flour, SF). The main objective was to assess the impact of these substitutions on the hydration, microstructure and mechanical properties of blended OWC. CBP was incorporated at substitution rates of 25 wt%, 50 wt%, 75 wt% and 100 wt% by weight of SF. These pastes were firstly precured at 50 °C for 7 days (to simulate the primary cementing operation prior to steam injection), and then thermally cycling cured at 300 °C/13.0 MPa (to simulate the steam injection process). The study conducted comprehensive tests and analyses, including compressive strength, gas permeability, hydration products and microstructural analyses. The results showed that the suitable substitution rate of CBP in this study was 25 wt%-50 wt%. At these substitution levels, the blended OWC pastes had good compressive strength (18.5 MPa and 17.9 MPa) and low gas permeability (3.1 × 10−3 mD and 4.51 × 10−3 mD). From the environmental and economic analyses, the energy intensity and CO2 emissions of all blended OWCs were significantly lower compared to those of conventional OWC. Meanwhile, the cost of blended OWC in this study was significantly lower compared to that of the commercial SF-OWC system. Overall, this study highlighted the potential of recycling waste materials to promote raw material sustainability and improve the performance of OWC pastes at HTHP conditions.

Properties of boron-doped HPHT diamond single crystals grown in a Fe-Ti-B-C system

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) single crystals were synthesized using a large-volume cubic high-pressure apparatus (SPD-6 × 1200) in the Fe-Ti-B-C system under conditions of 6.0 GPa and temperatures ranging from 1410 to 1435 °C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed linear textures, cracks, and dendritic growth texture on the crystal surface. The Raman spectrum exhibited additional bands at approximately 480, and 1220 cm−1, indicating high levels of boron doping. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed the presence of boron on the crystal surface, bonded as BC and BO. By utilizing the Hall effect, the highest recorded carrier concentration in the crystal was determined to be 1.17 × 1019 cm−3, a relatively high level for diamond single crystals synthesized via the high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) method. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis (TG) measurements verified that boron doping enhanced the thermal stability of the diamond.

The Characteristics of Luminescence from High-Temperature- and High-Pressure-Treated Diamonds

High-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP)-treated diamonds have attracted attention all over the world due to their vivid colors. In order to explore a new method for the rapid and non-destructive identification of HTHP-treated diamonds, in this paper, five IaAB-type diamonds yielded in Russia were selected as the research object and treated with HTHP. The HTHP-treated diamonds were investigated by DiamondViewTM, cathodoluminescence, micro-infrared spectrometry (micro-IR), low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrometry, and three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectrometry. The results show that under DiamondViewTM and cathode rays, the five samples were all non-phosphorescent with different luminous patterns, such as regular annular bands, multiple groups of intersecting linear stripes, or jagged stripes. In the low-temperature PL spectra, most HTHP-treated diamonds exhibited stronger luminescence peaks at 637 nm compared to 575 nm. But there were also exceptions, such as the purple-red sample showing the opposite luminescence peak. In the 3D fluorescence spectrum of the HTHP-treated diamonds, the fluorescence peak mainly appeared in the range of 440–450 nm, accompanied by a broad band of 350–500 nm and even longer wavelengths. Meanwhile, some samples also exhibited fluorescence peaks at longer wavelengths, such as 353 nm, 676 nm, and 665 nm. These results make it possible to identify HTHP-treated diamonds by using luminescence characteristics, providing a new method for the non-destructive and rapid detection of HTHP-treated diamonds.

The characterization of diamond single crystal growing along (100) after annealing treatment under high pressure and high temperature

Diamond has many desirable properties. In this study, temperature gradient method was used to prepare a series of type Ib diamond single crystals, which were processed again to obtain and characterize Type IaA diamonds with even more desirable properties. Before annealing, Fourier-transformed infra-red(FTIR) spectra of diamond showed peaks at 1130 cm−1 and 1344 cm−1; After annealing, the peak at 1282 cm−1 was appeared in FTIR spectra of diamonds This data indicated that the isolated nitrogen in diamond aggregated after high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method annealing experiment. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) spectra suggested that no nitrogen-related color centers existed in the diamond before annealing. In contrast, after annealing, a peak at 637 nm appeared in the PL spectra, indicating the appearance of NV−colors centers type Ib diamond post-annealing. The experimental results show that type Ib diamond crystals can be decolorized after 60 min of annealing under 7 GPa and 1850 °C, which makes part of the area transparent. Under 7 GPa and 2100 °C, type Ib diamond crystals can produce NV color center when annealed for 3 min. With increasing annealing temperature and prolonged annealing duration, the density and size of etch pits on the crystal surface escalated. Therefore, this study provides a guideline for the decolorization of diamonds by HPHT annealing. Moreover, this study also reports a method to change the crystal type and obtain NV color centers under ultra-high-temperature annealing conditions of 7 GPa pressure and 2100 °C temperature, which can be applied to develop quantum materials.

Factors Controlling Productivity – A Case Study on the Qixia Formation of the Shuangyushi Area, Sichuan Basin

The gas reservoir with high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) over 8,000 m is one of the carbonate gas reservoirs discovered in recent years in the Qixia Formation of the Shuangyushi area, NW Sichuan Basin, and the strong heterogeneity makes it difficult to deploy high-yield wells. The relationship between geology and productivity is given by using the research results of reservoir evaluation and statistical analysis of the dynamic analysis of trial production in the last 4 years in this paper. Then, the evaluation index system of high productivity controlling factors in the gas reservoir is given by using the fuzzy clustering analysis method. Finally, the relative importance of each index is quantitatively analyzed and evaluated by using the analytic hierarchy process to determine the key controlling factors affecting productivity. The evaluation results are highly consistent with the current characteristics of high-yield wells. The productivity of the newly completed Well 008 and Well 107 outside the trial mining area exceeded 1 million m3/day. The result shows that the high productivity of ultradeep gas wells in the Qixia Formation is mainly controlled by the degree of dolomitization, the distribution of high-energy shoal-mound complexes, and the degree of fracture development. It can be used to guide the deployment of productive wells in the southern area of the Shuangyushi-producing test area.

Effect of pressure on sintering behavior of polycrystalline diamond

Polycrystalline diamond composites (PDC) have been used as a cutting material in a multitude of fields, from mechanical processing to oil and gas drilling. In this study, PDC samples were prepared under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions within a pressure interval of 5.5 to 10.5 GPa by sintering diamond powder (average grain size ~3 μm) with WC-10 wt% Co substrate. Samples obtained with varying sintering pressures and temperatures were characterized using Vickers hardness tester, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results revealed that: (1) within a specified material system, each distinct sintering pressure condition corresponds to a unique optimal sintering temperature that yields the pinnacle of consolidation efficiency in samples. This optimal temperature exhibits a linearly increasing trend with rising sintering pressure; (2) at the intersection where the sintering pressure attains its optimal match with temperature, an increase in pressure fosters more intimate contact and stronger inter-grain bonding among diamond particles, thus amplifying the DD bond formation effect, which consequently leads to a linear enhancement in the Vickers hardness values of PDC with increasing sintering pressure; (3) simultaneously, under conditions of optimal temperature matching, elevating the sintering pressure notably decreases the cobalt content within the polycrystalline diamond layer of PDC samples. These findings furnish crucial experimental evidence for optimizing PDC material properties, significantly contributing to the advancement of both theoretical exploration and technological innovation within the field, carrying profound academic value and practical guidance implications.

Improving Drill-String Extended Reach Efficiency in High-Temperature and High-Pressure Conditions: An Experimental Investigation

Abstract Drill string buckling behavior is of interest to the oil and gas industries. Buckling severity increases as drilling continues and causes a lock-up condition beyond which drilling cannot commence. The friction force between the drill string and the wellbore is key in influencing drill string buckling initiation and progression. Herein, the effects of adding nano-sepiolite (NSP) as an additive to water-based drilling fluids on the friction between the drill string and wellbore wall were investigated. Various samples with different sizes and compositions of NSP were tested for their ability to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) that delays the onset of buckling to facilitate deep drilling by providing improved lubrication characteristics. The drill string sinusoidal and helical buckling and lock-up condition and the axial force transfer (AFT) were experimentally investigated. The water-based drilling fluids’ lubricity, COF between the drill string and the wellbore wall, and the stability of the rheological properties of the NSP-modified water-based drilling fluids containing 1–6 wt% NSP were tested in a high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) environment utilizing an in-house experimental setup. Sepiolite in nano-form at 4 wt% and with a size distribution of 30–60 nm improved the stability of the water-based drilling fluids rheology, significantly decreased the COF of the water-based drilling fluids, and improved the drill string axial force transfer. NSP additives significantly improved the COF and the drill string AFT in the HTHP environment compared with that of other commercial drilling fluids.

S-filled and Te-doped CoSb3 materials prepared by HPHT method with ultra-low thermal conductivity

In this paper, a series of S[Formula: see text]Co4Sb[Formula: see text]Te[Formula: see text] samples were prepared by high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) method under different pressures. The synthesis time was shortened from several days to 0.5 h. Te doping and S filling simultaneously optimized the thermal and electrical transport properties of the CoSb3 materials. We found a porous architecture containing rich grain boundaries, different grain sizes, nano- to micrometer-sized pores, and a large number of dislocations, which can scatter a wide spectrum of phonons. Seebeck coefficient [Formula: see text], electrical resistivity [Formula: see text], and thermal conductivity [Formula: see text] were measured between 295 K and 773 K. The minimum thermal conductivity of S[Formula: see text]Co4Sb[Formula: see text]Te[Formula: see text] synthesized at 3.0 GPa was 1.23 Wm[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text], and its maximum zT value reached 1.07 at 773 K, especially the lattice thermal conductivity was as low as 0.49 Wm[Formula: see text] K[Formula: see text].

Preparation of High-Performance Mn-Doped SnTe Materials at High Pressure and High Temperature.

SnTe is an environmentally friendly medium-temperature thermoelectric material, but its inherent low power factor (PF) and high lattice thermal conductivity severely limit its application. In this study, based on the fact that Mn doping can induce band convergence, the high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) synthesis method was used to optimize the sample preparation and shorten the synthesis cycle to 30 min. The results show that the Sn0.93Mn0.10Te sample achieves the maximum PF value of 34.00 μW cm-1 K-2 at 775 K and PFave value of 21.36 μW cm-1 K-2 between 300-875 K. Microstructure analysis shows that the high-pressure synthesis method introduces abundant grain boundaries, various grain sizes, multiple defects, and pore structures into the sample. These microscopic crystal structures can effectively scatter phonons and lower the lattice thermal conductivity. The modification of these micromorphologies results in the Sn0.92Mn0.11Te sample attaining a minimum lattice thermal conductivity of 0.45 W m-1 K-1 at 625 K. The thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of sample Sn0.92Mn0.11Te reaches a maximum value of 1.1 at 775 K, and the zTave reaches 0.63 in the range of 300-875 K. This study indicates that the synergistic effect of Mn element doping and microstructure modification can effectively optimize the thermoelectric transport performance of SnTe materials.

Fluorescence pressure sensors: Calibration of ruby, Sm2+: SrB4O7, and Sm3+: YAG to 55 GPa and 850 K

In this work, a calibration of ruby, samarium-doped strontium tetraborate (Sm2+: SrB4O7), and samarium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Sm3+: YAG) using Raman and fluorescence spectra was conducted within the temperature range of 296–850 K and pressure range of 0–55 GPa. The obtained calibration can be applied independently for high-temperature or high-pressure conditions and described as the unit form of P = (A′/B′) × [(λ/λT)B′ − 1] with A′ = A (296 K) + A1 × (T − 296) + A2 × (T − 296)2, B′ = B(296 K) + B1 × (T – 296), and λT = λT (296 K) + ΔλT, where the specific parameters are provided in the main text. It was observed that for the λ1 line (5D0 → 7F0 transition, about 685.2 nm under ambient conditions, also known as the 0-0 line) of Sm2+: SrB4O7, the neglect of the temperature effect on the pressure coefficient may lead to an underestimation of pressure above 35–40 GPa, with a maximum deviation of approximately 2.5 GPa within the range of 55 GPa and 850 K. For Sm3+: YAG, it may introduce significant errors under the whole high temperature and high pressure range if the effect of temperature is ignored, that is, about 3.9 GPa for Y1 line (4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, about 617.8 nm under ambient conditions) and 4.6 GPa for Y2 line (4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, about 616.0 nm under ambient conditions) at 850 K. Comparing the three fluorescence pressure sensors, the ruby has the strongest signal intensity and highest temperature sensitivity, and the Sm2+: SrB4O7 and the Sm3+: YAG possess lower temperature sensibility, wider used temperature range, and better spectral quality under high temperature and high pressure (HTHP), especially Sm2+: SrB4O7, which has a sharp high-intensity single peak λ1, perhaps the most promising sensor for high P–T experiments. Therefore, in view of the potential deflections of fluorescence peaks of each pressure sensor under HTHP, we recommend utilizing the HTHP-corrected relationships for pressure calibration.

Investigating the efficacy of novel organoclay as a rheological additive for enhancing the performance of oil-based drilling fluids

Oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) are extensively used in the drilling industry due to their superior performance in challenging drilling conditions. These fluids control wellbore stability, lubricate the drill bit, and transport drill cuttings to the surface. One important component of oil-based drilling fluids is the viscosifier, which provides rheological properties to enhance drilling operations. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Claytone-IMG 400, a novel rheological agent, in enhancing the performance of OBDFs under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. A comparative analysis was conducted with a pre-existing organoclay (OC) to assess the improvements achieved by Claytone-IMG 400. The OCs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution (PSD) to identify their mineral and chemical compositions, morphologies, and particle sizes. The drilling fluid density, electrical stability, sagging tendency, rheological properties, viscoelastic properties, and filtration properties were studied to formulate a stable and high-performance drilling fluid. The results confirmed that the novel OC does not affect the drilling fluid density but enhances the emulsion stability with a 9% increment compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The sagging experiments showed that Claytone-IMG 400 prevented the sagging issues in both static and dynamic conditions. Also, Claytone-IMG 400 improved the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and apparent viscosity (AV). The PV, YP, and AV were improved by 30%, 38%, and 33% increments respectively compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The YP/PV ratio increased with a 6% increment from 1.12 to 1.19. Moreover, the gel strength (GS) was significantly increased, and the filtration properties were enhanced. The filtration volume was reduced by 10% from 5.0 to 4.5 cm3, and the filter cake thickness had a 37.5% reduction from 2.60 to 1.89 mm. The novelty of this study is highlighted by the introduction and evaluation of Claytone-IMG 400 as a new rheological additive for safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling operations. The results indicate that Claytone-IMG 400 significantly improves the stability and performance of OBDFs, thereby reducing wellbore instability and drilling-related problems.

Research on thermal insulation materials properties under HTHP conditions for deep oil and gas reservoir rock ITP-Coring

Deep oil and gas reservoirs are under high-temperature conditions, but traditional coring methods do not consider temperature-preserved measures and ignore the influence of temperature on rock porosity and permeability, resulting in distorted resource assessments. The development of in situ temperature-preserved coring (ITP-Coring) technology for deep reservoir rock is urgent, and thermal insulation materials are key. Therefore, hollow glass microsphere/epoxy resin thermal insulation materials (HGM/EP materials) were proposed as thermal insulation materials. The materials properties under coupled high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) conditions were tested. The results indicated that high pressures led to HGM destruction and that the materials water absorption significantly increased; additionally, increasing temperature accelerated the process. High temperatures directly caused the thermal conductivity of the materials to increase; additionally, the thermal conduction and convection of water caused by high pressures led to an exponential increase in the thermal conductivity. High temperatures weakened the matrix, and high pressures destroyed the HGM, which resulted in a decrease in the tensile mechanical properties of the materials. The materials entered the high elastic state at 150 °C, and the mechanical properties were weakened more obviously, while the pressure led to a significant effect when the water absorption was above 10%. Meanwhile, the tensile strength/strain were 13.62 MPa/1.3% and 6.09 MPa/0.86% at 100 °C and 100 MPa, respectively, which meet the application requirements of the self-designed coring device. Finally, K46-f40 and K46-f50 HGM/EP materials were proven to be suitable for ITP-Coring under coupled conditions below 100 °C and 100 MPa. To further improve the materials properties, the interface layer and EP matrix should be optimized. The results can provide references for the optimization and engineering application of materials and thus technical support for deep oil and gas resource development.

A comprehensive prediction model of drilling wellbore temperature variation mechanism under deepwater high temperature and high pressure

Comprehensively considering the impact of properties of drilling fluid at high temperature and high pressure (HTHP), drill string eccentricity, rotation, and rock breaking of drill bit on the annular temperature profile, transient temperature variations were predicted by using a wellbore heat transfer model. The model was numerically solved using the finite difference method. Compared to DRILLBENCH simulations, the predicted model was more consistent with the field-measured data. The calculations revealed that comprehensively considering various heat source factors made the annular temperature closer to the actual wellbore value, with a temperature difference of up to 10.66 °C. When considering variations of properties of drilling fluid at HTHP, the lower section of the annulus showed a significant decrease in temperature with depth, with a bottom-hole temperature difference of 5.4 °C. The bottom-hole temperature decreased by about 2.6 °C from concentric to eccentric drill string, and the pressure difference was about 1 MPa. Compared to drill string eccentricity, rotation and rock breaking of drill bit had a greater impact on annular temperature, with bottom-hole temperature differences of 13 °C and 22 °C, respectively. Accurate temperature modeling can better understand and predict the variation patterns of wellbore temperature, providing important guidance for the development of deepwater drilling.

Strategies for hardening purity metallic materials by high pressure and high temperature quenching method

Purity metallic materials are increasingly demanded in modern manufacturing industries, but their applications are limited owing to their poor wear resistance and mechanical properties. Therefore, exploring an efficient hardening method to significantly enhance the hardness of pure metals is emergent in materials science. In this work, a series of high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) quenching experiments were carried out on several pure metals, with a maximum hardening factor exceeding 10. The results indicated that pressure has an unusual effect on refining grains and increasing the Hall–Petch coefficient ky. The ky value of pure Fe is 49.5 GPa*μm1/2 with a quenching pressure of 5 GPa, which is two orders higher than that of the untreated polycrystalline sample (0.2 GPa*μm1/2). In addition, we report an extreme hardness of 8.34 GPa in pure Ti induced by HPHT quenching, and the unprecedented hardening comes from the formation of the twin and lath martensitic substructures. The hardening mechanism of the HPHT quenching method is a combination of Hall–Petch hardening and work-hardening. Our results provide a practical route to achieve attractive mechanical properties in pure metals and shine a light on the hardening mechanism of metallic materials.

Investigating the properties of a ZnSe-based solid solution at 2.0 GPa

In this work, ZnSe-based polycrystalline ceramics were successfully synthesized from Se and Zn powders in the range of 2.0 GPa and 900 °C–1400 °C by using the high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method. From the acquired experimental results, it was revealed that the fabricated samples were composed of ZnSe with a sphalerite structural type. More specifically, the samples consisted of lamellar and granular grains, and the stomata of the samples showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing as a function of the elevated temperature. In addition, the infrared transmittance of ZnSe ceramics in the 4 to 18-μm range increased and then decreased by increasing the temperature. When the temperature exceeded the value of 1000 °C, the internal zinc surplus and selenium deficiency of zinc selenide ceramics induced a decrease in the mechanical and optical properties of the ceramics. By optimizing the conditions of the experimental process, the ZnSe synthesized at 1300 °C exhibited better performance with a transmittance of 55%.

The suitability of eggshell for improving the performance of water-based drilling mud in a high-temperature well

The selection of water-based mud for drilling a high-temperature and high-pressure (HTHP) well is the choice of many drilling mud engineers. This choice of mud is more attractive because it is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easy to prepare but its reliability for drilling shale formations and geothermal resources optimally depends on the design and inclusion of the necessary additives to the drilling fluid. An HPHT-resistant deficiency of the drilling mud has been an age-long jeopardy of the development of a harsh elevated temperature reservoirs such as geothermal formation. Consequently, it has become imperative to innovate a thermal resistance material that is capable of serving as an additive and ensuring thermal stability for drilling mud through the drilling operation at the desired temperature ranges. Studies reported in the literature have revealed that, eggshell nanoparticles (ESN) withstand a lot of heat and at the same time retain their properties under extreme conditions. This study examines the viability of employing eggshells to enhance the efficiency of water-based drilling fluid in elevated-temperature wells. ESN was added at various weighted amounts to the petroleum industry's approved mud composition for an elevated temperature well to design eggshell-boosted water-based mud samples. In accordance with the American Petroleum Institute (API) mud test technique, evaluation of the prepared mud samples was done by performing filtration, and rheological tests under HPHT conditions. The outcomes of the study show how ESN helps water-based drilling mud to withstand drilling operations in elevated temperature formations by delaying thermal degradation up to 270 °C. Specifically, the Fluid sample with 5 lb./bbl of ESN exhibited an 8 % reduction in HPHT filtrate vol when compared with an equal volume of commercial calcium carbonate (CCC), while a larger quantity of ESN (6 lb./bbl) yielded a 17 % reduction. Additionally, the inclusion of 5 lb./bbl of ESN was observed to be more effective than an equal quantity of CCC at 250 °C as it yielded a 28 % increase in 10 min gel strength. However, the rheological properties of 5 lb./bbl of ESN were not as effective as CCC at low-pressure low-temperature (LPLT) conditions which may be due to the presence of organic matter as a constituent of ESN at any temperatures below 200 °C.