Smart Fluids and Their Applications in Drilling Fluids to Meet Drilling Technical Challenges

Abstract

This article presents extensive analysis and review on recent developments in smart fluids as well as future opportunities of smart drilling fluids utilization in oil and gas well drilling while focusing on the following smart fluids: smart nanoparticles, electrorheological, magnetorheological, and viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids. The distinctive properties of nanoparticles such as tiny particle sizes, high specific surface area, mechanical strength, and thermal stability make them suitable for utilization in drilling fluids. In bentonite water-based drilling fluid systems, this review suggests that charged nanoparticles are capable of displacing exchangeable ions in between bentonite clay platelets, thereby forming intercalates which can interact with clay surfaces through electrostatic attraction or repulsion. In improving wellbore stability, it is presented in this review that nanoparticles are able to invade and plug ultratiny pore spaces in shale formations, thereby further enhancing shale formations’ mechanical strength and wellbore stability. According to this review, the magnitude of changes in properties of smart electrorheological and magnetorheological fluids largely depends on the intensity of applied electric and magnetic fields. The intensity of smart fluids properties alteration due to applied field would equally depend on wt.% concentration and chemical compositions of particles susceptible to electric and magnetic fields. Based on review carried out on VES smart fluids, attractive and repulsive forces in the smart VES fluids solution result in the formation of micelles which can cause changes in viscoelastic property of the formulated smart viscoelastic fluids. The more the concentration of charged ions in the base fluid which VES fluids come in contact with, the higher the viscoelasticity of the smart VES fluids. According to this review, utilization of smart materials in drilling fluids can result in meeting oil and gas well drilling technical challenges including enhancing wellbore stability, improving hole cleaning performance, lost circulation control, fluid loss control, enhancing rate of penetration, pressure drop control, and easing cutting carrying efficiency of drilling fluids. This review equally suggests that the utilization of smart fluids such as smart magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids would facilitate drilling automation and real-time data acquisition processes, which is the future technology in oil and gas drilling.

Achieving Practical Venue Recycle of Waste Oil-Based Drilling Fluids with Vacuum Distillation Technology

“…The apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity (PV), and yield point (YP) of drilling fluids prepared by recycled oil are similar to those prepared by 3# white oil, which can meet the desired requirements. However, it should be noted that the demulsification voltage of drilling fluids prepared by recycled oil is 731 V, which is lower than the 766 V of white oil drilling fluids, indicating that emulsion stability decreases slightly. , This may be due to some materials that are conducive to improving the emulsification of the drilling fluid are decomposed at high temperatures during the vacuum distillation process. , These materials mainly include the primary emulsifier PF-MOEMUL and co-emulsifier PF-MOCOAT, which both contain amide compounds. The decomposition of these materials at high temperatures could cause the amide-based compounds to follow the gas phase into the back end.…”

“… 28 , 29 This may be due to some materials that are conducive to improving the emulsification of the drilling fluid are decomposed at high temperatures during the vacuum distillation process. 30 , 31 These materials mainly include the primary emulsifier PF-MOEMUL and co-emulsifier PF-MOCOAT, which both contain amide compounds. The decomposition of these materials at high temperatures could cause the amide-based compounds to follow the gas phase into the back end.…”

pH-Responsive Viscoelastic Fluids of a C22-Tailed Surfactant Induced by Trivalent Metal Ions

“…At present, viscosity loss is the most prominent defect in clean fracturing fluids at high temperatures and high shear rates. Therefore, temperature- and shear-resistant properties have been considered the major criteria for evaluating the applicability of viscoelastic fluids in hydraulic fracturing [ 15 ].…”

“…Unfortunately, these external additives would not only change the composition of the viscoelastic fluids, but they would also prevent their recovery and reuse. Therefore, much attention has been shifted to constructing smart viscoelastic fluids, which can be switched reversibly between water-like and viscoelastic states [ 15 ]. Of these stimulus-responsive systems, pH-responsive viscoelastic solutions possess the advantages of simple preparation, controllability, easy operation, and being cost-effective [ 16 ].…”

Evaluation of using micronized saudi calcite in ilmenite-weighted water-based drilling fluid

“…These fluids offer superior lubrication, thermal stability, and reduced formation damage, making them ideal for specific drilling conditions. The choice between WBDF and OBDF hinges on a careful consideration of geological characteristics, environmental impact, and operational demands, underscoring the importance of selecting the most suitable fluid for optimal drilling performance 6 , 7 .…”