Cellulose Nanoparticles as Modifiers for Rheology and Fluid Loss in Bentonite Water-based Fluids

Abstract

Rheological and filtration characteristics of drilling fluids are considered as two critical aspects to ensure the success of a drilling operation. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs), including microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in enhancing the rheological and filtration performances of bentonite (BT) water-based drilling fluids (WDFs). CNCs were isolated from MFC through sulfuric acid hydrolysis. In comparison with MFC, the resultant CNCs had much smaller dimensions, more negative surface charge, higher stability in aqueous solutions, lower viscosity, and less evident shear thinning behavior. These differences resulted in the distinctive microstructures between MFC/BT- and CNC/BT-WDFs. A typical "core-shell" structure was created in CNC/BT-WDFs due to the strong surface interactions among BT layers, CNCs, and immobilized water molecules. However, a similar structure was not formed in MFC/BT-WDFs. As a result, CNC/BT-WDFs had superior rheological properties, higher temperature stability, less fluid loss volume, and thinner filter cakes than BT and MFC/BT-WDFs. Moreover, the presence of polyanionic cellulose (PAC) further improved the rheological and filtration performances of CNC/BT-WDFs, suggesting a synergistic effect between PAC and CNCs.

Nano-Based Drilling Fluids: A Review

“…Finally, they noticed that the API fluid loss of PAC/CNCs/bentonite water based drilling fluids remarkably decreased as the concentrations of bentonite and PAC increased, while CNCs had little impact on the fluid loss of the PAC/CNC/bentonite fluid. Li et al [39] explored the effectiveness of cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs), including microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and CNCs in enhancing the rheological and filtration performance of bentonite water-based drilling fluids. They found that addition of MFC and CNCs increased the rheological properties of bentonite water based drilling fluids, including the viscosity and yield point, demonstrating their capability on improving cuttings transport capacity.…”

Improvement in filtration properties of water-based drilling fluid by nanocarboxymethyl cellulose/polystyrene core–shell nanocomposite

“…Xuan et al (2014) investigated the graphite oxide nanoparticles and showed it has a strong ability in controlling fluid loss of drilling fluid. Li et al (2015b) used cellulose nanoparticles to improve the rheological properties and fluid loss in water-based drilling fluid and reported. Benyounes et al (2010) investigated the effect of anionic polymer such as carboxymethyl cellulose and xanthan on rheology of bentonite suspension at different concentrations.…”

Steady-shear and viscoelastic properties of cellulose nanofibril–nanoclay dispersions

“…Notably, it has been shown that CNF-bentonite dispersions display properties suitable for use as drilling fluids (Li et al 2015). However, comprehensive studies on the steady-shear and viscoelastic properties of such CNF-nanoclay dispersions are rare, and previous rheological studies have mainly focused on dispersions of plate-like nanoclays and moderately charged or uncharged nanocellulose particles (Abend and Lagaly 2000;Li et al 2015;Ming et al 2016;Nechyporchuk et al 2014).…”