The bleaching of crude palm oil using activated plantain peel ash (APPA) was studied in this work. Historical data design (HDD) in response surface methodology (RSM) experimental design was employed to optimize and correlate the process operating parameters (temperature, time and adsorbent dosage) to the percentage bleaching efficiency. The analysis of the results showed that the quadratic effects of the operating parameters were significant. The optimum condition for the maximum adsorption efficiency of 70.04% was obtained at 160˚C temperature, 60 minutes reaction time, and 4 g adsorbent dosage. The predicted bleaching efficiency of 74% was in good agreement with the optimum experimental yield. This study has revealed that APPA is a good source of adsorbent for palm oil bleaching.

Drilling detergents are among the chemical compounds that are increasingly being used in many varieties of drilling fluids. They are aqueous blend of surface-active agents that reduces the surface tension of water-based drilling fluids, reduces the sticking tendency of water-sensitive shale cuttings and aid cuttings removal; leading to cleaner hole, faster penetration rates and lower drilling pressure. Due to the increase in environmental issues associated with the disposal of drilling detergent presently used, drilling companies are exploring options of using environmentally friendly, degradable and renewable drilling detergents. In this study, biodetergents were produced from non-edible seed oils (Ricinus communis oil and Azadirachta Indica oil). The biodetergents and a commercial drilling detergent used in the Niger Delta field were analysed for a number of standard properties required for good drilling detergents. Drilling muds formulated with these detergents were also analysed for a number of standard mud properties. Physicochemical properties analyses showed that biodetergents met the required specification of good drilling detergents. The physicochemical properties of the biodetergents were also comparable to that of commercial drilling detergent. BOD values obtained showed that the biodetergents could easily be broken or biodegraded than the commercial drilling detergent. Toxicity test on Penaeus Monodon showed that biodetergents are more environmentally friendly than the commercial drilling detergent. Drilling mud properties analyses further showed that synthesized biodetergents can be used as an alternative to conventional drilling detergent.

The search for suitable biodiesel for formulating oil based muds for deep high-temperature wells, deviated offshore wells and sensitive shale formation have intensified over the years. The reasons behind the continuous search are in two folds. First, conventional diesel used in formulating oil-based muds are fossil based, costly, non-renewable and detrimental to environment. Secondly, previous attempts to use biodiesels proved to be more expensive than the conventional diesel. In this study, biodiesel was produced from oil extracted from Lagenaria siceraria seeds. The suitability of using the synthesized Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel in oil-based muds was evaluated. The evaluation involved comparing the properties of the synthesized Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel and its drilling muds against those of the conventional diesel and some commonly used plant seed oil based biodiesels. In addition, the economic viability of the use of the synthesized Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel in oil-based muds was evaluated and compared against those of the conventional diesel and the commonly used plant seed oil based biodiesels. The physiochemical properties of the synthesized Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel showed that it has a better potential to replace the conventional diesel. Result of mud properties and toxicity tests also showed that the synthesized Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel has a better potential to replace the conventional diesel. Although, conventional diesel is cheaper than the Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel and the commonly used plant seed oil based biodiesels, economic analysis showed that it is cost effective to use the Lagenaria siceraria biodiesel.