Effect of Hydrophobic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on the Properties of Oil-Based Drilling Fluid

Abstract

Lately, nanoparticles (NPs) have shown the potential to improve the performance of oil well fluids significantly. Several studies have reported the ability of NPs to produce improved properties of both water and oil-based drilling fluids. In this study, hydrophobic iron oxide NPs were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in an inert atmosphere, and its performance was tested in the oil-based drilling fluid with 90/10 oil to water ratio (base fluid). Oil-based drilling fluids treated with nanofluids were formulated by adding 0.5 wt. % and 1.0 wt. % iron oxide NPs in hexane solution to the base drilling fluid. The base fluid and the nanofluid treated drilling fluids were evaluated by characterizing their rheological properties at different temperatures, viscoelastic properties, lubricity, filtrate loss, static & dynamic settling, and separation properties. Results showed that 0.5 wt. % iron oxide dispersed in hexane reduced the HPHT filtrate loss by 70%, filter cake thickness by 55%, and the coefficient of friction by 39%. Moreover, the nanofluid based drilling fluid reduced the free oil layer caused by syneresis during aging at high temperature by 16.3% compared to the base fluid. This study has shown that hydrophobic iron oxide NPs have the potential to improve the properties of oil-based drilling fluid.

An experimental investigation into the rheological behavior and filtration loss properties of water-based drilling fluid enhanced with a polyethyleneimine-grafted graphene oxide nanocomposite

“…These parameters are intrinsically linked, with alterations in one directly impacting the other. 62 The investigation encompassed both the base drilling fluid and the variant containing 0.3 wt% PEI-GO, as depicted in Fig. 7 and Table 4 .…”

Hydrodynamic Analysis and Cake Erosion Properties of a Modified Water-Based Drilling Fluid by a Polyacrylamide/Silica Nanocomposite during Rotating-Disk Dynamic Filtration

“…Moreover, the nanomaterial in drilling fluids has no destructive impact on the risk of contamination of underground freshwater during drilling. The reason for using NPs to reduce filtration and fluid loss is to reduce the deposited mud cake permeability on the wellbore by improving rheological properties and the pore blocking mechanism. − Alvi et al investigated the effect of iron oxide NPs on the characteristics of OBDMs . Bayat et al evaluated the rheological and filtration properties of polymeric WBDMs treated by various NPs .…”

“… 24 − 26 Alvi et al investigated the effect of iron oxide NPs on the characteristics of OBDMs. 27 Bayat et al evaluated the rheological and filtration properties of polymeric WBDMs treated by various NPs. 28 Moreover, the nanosilica is widely used as a low-cost additive in drilling fluid to overcome clay swelling and formation damage.…”

Low Equivalent Circulating Density Organoclay-Free Invert Emulsion Drilling Fluids

“…In recent studies, different nanoparticles such as nanosilica, ironbased, and calcium-based nanoparticles have been used in nonaqueous drilling fluids to obtain viscosity profiles that would give good ECD management [7][8][9][10][11]. However, the use of such nanoparticles would increase the fluid cost.…”