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Performance evaluation of drilling fluids is eminent for a successful drilling project as they not only remove drill cuttings but also prevent undesired penetration or outflow of formation fluids by sealing off wellbore walls. However, concerns have been raised about the use of chemical additives in drilling fluids due to their toxicity and non-biodegradability. To this end, agricultural waste materials are recognized as a promising alternative as they are cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and can be used as a substitute for lost circulation materials. Rice husk ash (RHA) has become popular as an additive due to its renewable characteristics including large surface area, silica content, and microporous structure. This research article explores the rheological properties of drilling fluid with RHA as a filter control medium. The results showed that increasing concentrations of RHA in the drilling mud significantly improved its rheology particularly at higher concentrations (15 and 20 wt.%). The addition of RHA modified the filtration and rheological properties of the drilling mud resulting in improved plastic viscosity, yield point, density, gel strength, and thixotropy. However, the filter loss and mud cake thickness increased at elevated RHA concentration. Furthermore, the pH test revealed that the mud's properties shifted towards the acidic region as the RHA concentration increased. The results indicate that RHA could be used as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical additives with a positive environmental impact. This study may also provide valuable insights into the use of RHA in water-based bentonite mud and could serve as a guide for future research in the drilling industry.

Modeling strategies via Aspen Plus® for biomass gasification were assessed. Dynamic modeling can be essential in aiding control studies of biomass gasification process using Aspen Dynamics. Model predictive control is a widely recognized optimal controller for biomass gasification.