Understanding Shale Instability through the Lens of Clay Mineralogy and Zeta Potential

Abstract

havoc due to its brittle nature. Roughly 70% of the wellbore instability issues are associated with the shale dispersion, swelling and sloughing [14,15]. Wellbore instability issues may arise due to bit balling, pipe stucking, caving and lost circulation which predominantly happens due to shale swelling [16,17]. Shales can undergo through instability mainly due to its chemical composition or mechanical failure [18]. However, in this detailed review, shale instability has been related with the clay chemistry. The pieces of evidence have been collected from the recent literature which directly correlates the clay mineral content with shale instability. Moreover, this review paper also sheds lights on the pioneer work carried out which basically laid the foundation of the role of mineralogy in shale hydration. More importantly, this paper also relates the shale types with its mineralogy and ultimately with instability, paving way for the researchers to choose the suitable candidate for their shale stabilization studies.

Eco-Friendly Drilling Fluid: Calcium Chloride-Based Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) as an All-Rounder Additive

“…This alteration of the surface charge of clay minerals affects their interaction with water and other fluids, thereby limiting their expansion and reducing shale swelling. The effectiveness of NADES or deep eutectic solvents (DES) in preventing shale swelling depends on various factors such as the specific HBA and HBD components used, the properties of the shale, and the particular application [41].…”