Rheological Behavior and Filtration of Water-Based Drilling Fluids Containing Graphene Oxide: Experimental Measurement, Mechanistic Understanding, and Modeling

Abstract

Any improvement in drilling technology is critical for developing the oil and gas industry. The success of drilling operations largely depends on drilling fluid characteristics. Drilling fluids require enough viscosity to suspend the particles and transport them to the surface and enough capability to control the fluid loss into the formation. Rheology and filtration characteristics of drilling fluids are crucial factors to consider while ensuring the effectiveness of a drilling operation. Graphene oxide (GO), xanthan gum (XG), and low-viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC LV) are being utilized in this research to produce high-performance, low-solid water-based drilling fluids (WDFs). Rheological and filtration behaviors of GO/XG/CMC LV-WDF were investigated as a function of GO, XG, and CMC LV at low concentrations (0.0–0.3% w/w) and atmospheric conditions. According to the findings, GO improved the rheological and filtration capabilities of the WDF. By adding 0.15 wt % GO, shear stress could be doubled, especially at a high shear rate of 1022 s–1. The plastic viscosity of the fluid could be expanded from 6 to 13 centipoise, and a fluid loss of 8.7 mL over 30 min was observed during the API fluid test, which would be lower than the suggested fluid loss value (15.0 mL) for water-based mud. At the same concentration of XG and CMC LV, XG had a more significant influence on rheological characteristics in the presence of GO. Adding 0.3 wt % XG could increase fluid shear stress from 20.21 to 30.21 Pa at a high shear rate of 1022 s–1. In contrast, CMC LV had more impact on filtration properties, acting as a filtration control agent by decreasing the API fluid loss of fluid from 21.4 to 14.2 mL over 30 min. The addition of XG and CMC LV to the GO solution may influence the microstructure of the filter cake, resulting in a tree-root morphology. Indeed, in the GO/CMC LV solution, the individual platelets may bind together, form a jellyfish shape, and block the micropores. The incorporation of CMC LV helped develop compact filter cakes, resulting in excellent filtration. Five rheological models were employed to match the fluid parameters quantitatively. The Herschel–Bulkley model outperformed the other models in simulating fluid rheological behavior. The findings of this study can be utilize to provide low-cost, stable, and environmentally compatible additives for drilling low-pressure, depleted, and fractured oil and gas reservoirs.

Nanofluid Formulations Based on Two-Dimensional Nanoparticles, Their Performance, and Potential Application as Water-Based Drilling Fluids

“…For instance, Rafieefar et al (2021) very recently reported that graphene oxide flakes (GOFs) enhanced the shear-thinning behavior by adding solely a tiny amount of GOFs to the formulation. 38 They also demonstrated the significant impact on the shear stress induced by adding 0.15 wt % GOFs to the WBDFs using 0.15 wt % XG and 0.15 wt % CMC-LV. In addition to the modulation of the shear stress, it was also reported that PV increased from 6 to 13 cP, accompanied by a fluid loss of about 18 mL/h, while the recommended value by the API is about 30 mL/h.…”

“… 84 In the study by Rafieefar et al (2021) the Herschel–Bulkley model outperformed the other two models in forecasting the rheological parameters of WBDFs using xanthan gum (XG) as a base and low-viscosity carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-LV) with different concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) as additives. 38 , 88 Similarly, the Herschel–Bulkley parameters were calculated to evaluate the combined effect of MoS 2 nanoparticles on 80 °C thermally stable DFs. 89 Likewise, previous studies reported that the Bingham plastic model fits in a very good manner the experimental data of WBDFs using graphene nanoparticles and Laponite 2D layered nanoparticles as additives.…”

“…Even with different concentrations of graphene oxide (GO) as additives. 38,88 Similarly, the Herschel−Bulkley parameters were calculated to evaluate the combined effect of MoS 2 nanoparticles on 80 °C thermally stable DFs. 89 Likewise, previous studies reported that the Bingham plastic model fits in a very good manner the experimental data of WBDFs using graphene nanoparticles and Laponite 2D layered nanoparticles as additives.…”

“…Many attempts have been made to modulate the rheological, filtration, and heat transfer properties of DF formulations using nanoparticles as additives, viscosifiers, LCMs, or density regulators by exploiting nanotechnology. ,,,− The enhancement of their properties due to the inclusion of nanomaterials is attributed to their intrinsic properties at the nanoscale. In fact, nanomaterials formulation must ensure that at least one of their constituents possesses sizes up to 100 nm (1 nm = a billionth of a meter). − At this scale, nanomaterials would exhibit totally different physicochemical properties, including improved electronic properties such as thermal and electrical conductivities, mechanical properties, high specific surface area, magnetism, quantum effects, and antimicrobial activity, among others, if compared with their macroscopic counterpart. ,,,,− Most of the latter characteristic features are often absent in their macroscopic form, and they are closely related to their sizes and morphologies, which can vary from nanoparticles with well-defined geometry (spheres, triangles, squares, rhombuses, and plates), nanorods, nanotubes, nanosheets, etc. ,, Nanomaterials are classified as zero-dimensional such as nanoparticles, one-dimensional such as nanorods nanostructures, two-dimensional such as flat layer-like nanoparticles, and three-dimensional such as those nanostructures formed by the interaction of two or several nanoparticles. ,, Typical nanoparticles used so far in drilling mud formulations include but are not limited to carbonaceous nanostructures (carbon, buckminsterfullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene), − copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ), ferric oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), bismuth ferrite, nanocellulose, nanoclays, and molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ). ,,,,,− The fabrication of high-performance hybrid muds based on the association of two or more of the preceding nanoparticles has also been reported. ,…”

“…A variety of recent works have been published in this area. For instance, Rafieefar et al (2021) very recently reported that graphene oxide flakes (GOFs) enhanced the shear-thinning behavior by adding solely a tiny amount of GOFs to the formulation . They also demonstrated the significant impact on the shear stress induced by adding 0.15 wt % GOFs to the WBDFs using 0.15 wt % XG and 0.15 wt % CMC-LV.…”