Proposing a New Eco-Friendly Drilling Fluid Additive to Enhance the Filtration Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluid Systems

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to develop a new material used to control the seepage losses and combat issues regarding thick mud cake. The plan is to develop a biodegradable waste material from Grass, which is environmentally friendly to be utilized as an alternative material to address filtration problems. Raw material from local Grass in the USA was used to construct the fibrous fluid loss control agent (Grass Powder). The lab procedure consisted of crushing and grinding process to assemble the samples to be ready for preparation. Spud mud samples were used as a guide to indicate filtration control. The material was tested to generate results from the experiments conducted at surface conditions to determine the reduction in the volume of filtrate and mud cake. Based on the experiments conducted, Grass Powder (GP) can be applied to treat problems associated with the seepage loss in the drilling operations. The grass availability, being eco-friendly, low cost, and the simple method of Grass Powder preparation by using grinding and crushing can prove to be a suitable replacement for conventional materials used to control filtration. Then, the results of Grass Powder were compared to starch, commonly used conventional additive. The results showed that Grass Powder decreased the fluid loss by 44% at 1% (7 grams) concentration of GP, and the filter cake was enhanced as well when comparing it to the reference fluid. While the starch material showed an improvement in seepage loss by 40% at 1% (7 grams) concentration when comparing it to the reference fluid. In addition, starch was less efficient in improving the filter cake as compared to Grass Powder. Consequently, GP laboratory outcomes slightly showed better performance as compared to starch additive, suggesting the feasibility of Grass Powder to be used as fluid loss control agents. In brief, these experimental results exhibit that Grass Powder has the potential to be utilized as biodegradable drilling fluid additives replacing chemical additives and reducing the amount of non-biodegradable waste disposed to the environment.

Hole Cleaning during Drilling Oil and Gas Wells: A Review for Hole-Cleaning Chemistry and Engineering Parameters

“…Tere exist several classifcations of both natural and modifed polymers that are used in drilling fuids, serving to improve the rheological characteristics and boost the efcacy of well-cleaning operations [5]. Natural polymers (biopolymers), such as starch [112], quebracho [113], xanthan gum [114], guar gum [115], welan gum [116][117][118], scleroglucan [118], locust bean gum [119,120], and lignosulfonates [121,122] are considered very suitable. However,…”

Utilization of Eco-Friendly Waste Generated Nanomaterials in Water-Based Drilling Fluids; State of the Art Review

“…In addition, Al-Hameedi et al found that biodegradable grass powder (GP) in comparison to starch, which is a commonly used additive, was batter able to control fluid circulation loss. Although starch showed better rheological properties than GP, this indicates that grass can be used in a supporting capacity in combination with starch to provide a more environmentally friendly additive [ 16 ].…”

Improving the Rheological Properties of Water Based Mud with Moringa oleifera Leaves

“…Another research was also done by Omotioma, et al [7] and they found out that cashew and mango leaves extract improved rheological properties in water based mud because it showed suitable results as mud additives. Of the two plants, mango showed higher improvement than cashew nut [8]. Found out that cellulose from ground nuts shells could do better than polyanionic cellulose (PAC) when used to formulate the drilling mud.…”