Organically modified layered magnesium silicates to improve rheology of reservoir drilling fluids

Abstract

Petroleum well drilling fluids are one of the most significant constituents in the subterranean drilling processes to meet an increasing global demand for oil and gas. Drilling fluids experience exceptional wellbore conditions, e.g. high temperature and high pressure that adversely affect the rheology of these fluids. Gas and oil well drilling operations have to adjourn due to changes in fluid rheology, since the drilling fluids may lose their effectiveness to suspend heavy particles and to carry drilled cuttings to the surface. The rheological properties of drilling fluids can be controlled by employing viscosifiers that should have exceptional stability in downhole environments. Here, we have developed nextgeneration viscosifiers-organically modified magnesium silicates (MSils)-for reservoir drilling fluids where organic functionalities are directly linked through the Si-C bond, unlike the industry's traditional viscosifier, organoclay, that has electrostatic linkages. The successful formation of covalently-linked hexadecyl and phenyl functionalized magnesium silicates (MSil-C16 and MSil-Ph) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Identical drilling fluid formulations were designed for comparison using MSils and a commercial viscosifier. The rheological properties of fluids were measured at ambient conditions as well as at high temperatures (up to 150 °C) and high pressure (70 MPa). Owing to strong covalent linkages, drilling fluids that were formulated with MSils showed a 19.3% increase in yield point (YP) and a 31% decrease in apparent viscosity (AV) at 150 °C under 70 MPa pressure, as compared to drilling fluids that were formulated with traditional organoclay. The higher yield point and lower apparent viscosity are known to facilitate and increased drilling rate of penetration of the fluids and an enhanced equivalent circulation density (ECD), the dynamic density condition, for efficient oil and gas wells drilling procedures.

Efficient dye removal from industrial wastewater using sustainable activated carbon and its polyamide nanocomposite derived from agricultural and industrial wastes in column systems

“…This increase may be attributed to the presence of more binding sites, implying a greater diffusion of adsorbate around the solid particles. 69 However, the increase of the AC/PA bed height is less effective in providing more binding sites and sufficient residence time for the adsorption process in comparison with AC. Therefore, there is less IDW adsorbed on the AC/PA composite in the fixed bed.…”

Evaluating the Effect of Claytone-EM on the Performance of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

“…One of the major advantages of OCs is their ability to increase viscosity and suspension properties while maintaining low shear rates, thereby preventing cuttings from settling within the wellbore and improving hole stability. Additionally, OCs offer benefits such as improved filtration control and rheological stability, which enhance overall efficiency during the drilling operation. − OCs are used as additives to control the rheological properties and enhance the performance of drilling fluids, particularly in OBDFs and SBDFs, due to their ability to adsorb and stabilize oil droplets and other nonpolar substances within the fluid. ,,− The search for new OCs with favorable properties for use in OBDFs is an area of active research. Table provides a comparative overview of the focus and findings of the current study with other relevant research on the application of OCs in OBDFs.…”

An experimental study to evaluate the efficiency of silicate drilling fluids on the stabilization of shale layers

“…Silicate fluid was first used in 1930 but was discontinued due to its high viscosity (Guo et al 2006;Tian et al 2019;Lei et al 2021). Nowadays, with the modifications made to the soluble silicates used in the fluid composition, it has been introduced as a shale inhibitory fluid with suitable efficiency (Jiang 2019;Patel and Santra 2020). Water-soluble sodium or potassium silicate is prepared by melting Na 2 Co 3 or K 2 Co 3 with Sio 2 silicate at 1000-1200 C.…”