Experimental investigation of the effects of SnO₂ nanoparticles and KCl salt on a water base drilling fluid properties

Abstract

Reduction of proven gas and oil reserves and increasing demand for energy forces the petroleum industry to drill deeper and more complicated wells. Drilling in these harsh environments requires drilling fluids with specific characteristics. So, improvement of the drilling fluids that can act as proper fluids at high pressure and high temperature conditions is vital in the drilling industry. The purpose of this study is examining the effects of SnO2 nanoparticles on the properties of drilling fluids and determining of the extent of improvement of water‐based drilling fluids performance. These nanoparticles were added to polymeric water‐based drilling fluids in various concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g/L in the presence of KCl at concentrations of 5, 15, 30, 60, and 100 g/L. The experiments were done at temperatures of 30, 50, 70, and 90 °C. Electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and thixotropy of the resulting drilling fluids were investigated. Moreover, filtration of the drilling fluids at room temperature, 65, and 95 °C and pressures of 0.6895 MPa (100 psig) and 2.758 MPa (400 psig) and various nanoparticle concentrations were studied. It was found that electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity were increased by 30 % and 15 %, respectively. Finally, in order to have more accurate hydraulic calculations, five rheological models were studied and compared together. It was observed that the Herschel‐Bulkley‐Papanastasiou model showed the highest accuracy with an absolute relative error of 1.1 %.

Nano-Based Drilling Fluids: A Review

“…HP/HT filtration after aging indicated that the 0.00285 wt % (0.01 ppb) of MWCNTs was the optimal concentration with the lowest filtration volume (Figure 14). Parizad and Shahbazi [46] investigated the effects of Tin oxide (SnO2) NP on water-based drilling fluid properties. They concluded that adding SnO2 NP enhanced the characteristics of the drilling fluids such as rheology, thermal and electrical conductivities, thixotropy and filtration characteristics.…”

An Investigation on the Function of Mud Cakes on the Inhibition of Low Molecular Inhibitor for Water-Based Drilling Fluids

“…In the third phase, 0.5 wt% nano-silica was stirred with the mud for 2 h to further reduce the water loss of the mud by plugging the nano-pores of wellbores [30]. In the fourth phase, a large amount of ions were supplied by stirring 3 wt% potassium chloride with the mud for 2 h. By balancing the charge of clay and polymers, the stability of drilling fluids can further improve [31]. Four drilling fluids, such as 1#, 3#, 5# and 7#, were prepared in this way.…”

Applications of nanotechnology in oil and gas industry: Progress and perspective

“…Nanomaterials play a multifunctional role in the drilling and completion process, especially in complex formations and extreme environments, such as high‐temperature deep wells. There exist several advantages by adding nanomaterials into drilling and completion fluids Stabilizing wellbore .…”

“…Stabilize wellbore; reduce filter loss; improve rheology; increase thermal stability Alimohammadi et al, [14] Sharma et al, [15] Parizad and Shahbazi, [16] Ehtesabi et al, [17] Qiu, [18] and Di et al [19] 2. Change the wettability of porous surfaces of sandstone 3.…”

“…There exist several advantages by adding nanomaterials into drilling and completion fluids. [14][15][16][28][29][30] Stabilizing wellbore. Nanoparticles can form a compact filter cake on the wellbore, which can prevent or reduce the phenomena of water swelling and wellbore collapse.…”