Effect of Cassava Starch and Sodium Carbonate on the Properties of Local Drilling Mud: Beneficiation to Improve the Rheological and Flow Properties of Locally Formulated Mud

The oil production industry in Nigeria operates both onshore and more recently offshore in the coastal areas located in the oil-rich Niger-Delta. Unfortunately, the drilling mud additives currently used in the country are all imported and at huge foreign exchange costs. Therefore the objective of the current effort is development of drilling fluid from locally sourced mud additives for drilling operations. Various rheological and filtration tests were carried out on both unbeneficiated and beneficiated local clay from Afuze, Nigeria using a six-speed Rheometer and API filter press respectively. Beneficiation involved the addition of sodium carbonate, caustic soda and starch to the mud formulations.Clay concentrations were varied from 20g/350ml to 60g/350ml. The test results showed that free swell volume (FSV) increased from with clay concentration with the optimum values observed at 60g/350ml. The filtrate loss of 63ml, filter cake thickness of 6m, yield point of 7cp and plastic viscosity of 1cp values of Afuze clay did not satisfy API specification of 15ml, 2m, 24cp and 8cp respectively at any tested concentration. Likewise Afuze clay did not display gel strength (10 seconds and 10 minutes of 29 and 34 respectively) suitable for bringing cuttings up from the hole. However, improvements in its rheological and filtration properties as well as free swell volume were observed with the beneficiated Afuze clay at clay concentrations of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60g/350ml when beneficiated with starch concentrations of 1g and 0.5g, sodium carbonate of 2g and 1g and caustic soda of 0.25g. Beneficiated Afuze clay displayed gel strengths (10 seconds and 10 minutes of 98 and 140 respectively) suitable for bringing cuttings up from the hole with optimum values observed at 60g/350ml.

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Evaluation of Shale Around Dange, Northwestern Nigeria as Raw Material for Drilling Mud

Earth Science Research ◽

10.5539/esr.v8n1p19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Oluwole. A. OYEDEJI ◽

Gabriel. O. Adeyemi

Keyword(s):

Sodium Carbonate ◽

Diffraction Method ◽

Major Elements ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Exchangeable Cations ◽

Raw Material ◽

Exchange Potential ◽

Natural State ◽

Drilling Mud ◽

Identification Chart

Shale exposed around Dange northwestern, Nigeria was studied. The aim was to determine the grade, quality and usability of the shale as drilling mud using its physico-chemical and the rheological characteristics. Sixty-one (61) samples were collected from exposed sections and pits. Major elements such as SiO2, Al2O3, MgO and CaO were determined. X-ray diffraction method was employed for the qualitative identification of the minerals in the shale. Cation Exchange Capacity and Exchangeable cations were determined using the Methylene Blue Absorption and Ammonium Acetate Saturation Methods respectively. Grain-size distribution and Atterberg Limits tests were also conducted. Apparent Viscosity, Plastic Viscosity and Yield point were calculated from readings obtained on a multi-speed Fann viscometer. The dominant clay mineral observed is smectite (71%) implying good expansive potential. Dominant oxides were SiO2 (42.60-57.50%), Al2O3 (12.00-16.70%), CaO (0.43-12.50%). Exchangeable cations obtained were Na+ (0.48-6.67), Ca2+ (14.03-34.50) and K+ (0.42-1.95) meq/100g clay. Liquid and plastic limits ranged from 69.40-86.00% and 30.10-36.10% respectively giving a Plasticity Index of 39.40-52.60%. The samples plot close to Ca-montmorillonite on the clay identification chart. The viscosity increased on addition of 7-10% sodium carbonate. It has good sodium exchange potential. In the natural state, it does not meet the API/OCMA specifications. However, its rheological properties improved significantly on treatment with sodium carbonate thus confirming its suitability as raw material in drilling mud.

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Flow Properties Of Suspensions In Drilling Mud Design

10.2118/557-g ◽

1955 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

W.C. Browning

Keyword(s):

Drilling Mud ◽

Flow Properties

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Modification of Nanoclay Systems: An Approach to Stabilizing Drilling Fluids

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.829.818 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 829 ◽

pp. 818-824

Author(s):

Sahar Kafashi ◽

Ramin Taghdimi ◽

Gholamreza Karimi

Keyword(s):

Rheological Properties ◽

Drilling Fluid ◽

Experimental Tests ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Drilling Fluids ◽

Drilling Mud ◽

Flow Properties ◽

Water Soluble Polymer ◽

The Stability ◽

Oil Company

This study was aimed to investigate the rheological properties and the possibility of nano(Na, Ca )- bentonites nanoproducts to meet the required drilling mud properties. Sepiolite (Sp) and the mixture of 2% nanoNaB with 1% Sp were collected and prepared from Irans oil Company (NIOC). The nanoclay performance evaluation involved the experimental tests of the rheological properties, filtration and gel strength. According to the results obtained from flow properties tests for the mixture, it was indicated that the mixture was not adequate to be a suitable drilling fluid. The main objective was to make stable dispersions with nanobentonite and sepiolite by using a water soluble polymer as stabilizer. The changes in the rheological properties of bentonite were investigated at various concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to discover the stability of the dispersions. The standard API tests were applied for drilling fluid to determine the properties of dispersions.

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Experimental analysis of cassava starch as a fluid loss control agent on drilling mud

Materials Today Proceedings ◽

10.1016/j.matpr.2020.07.189 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Novrianti ◽

Idham khalid ◽

Yuliastini ◽

Adi Novriansyah

Keyword(s):

Experimental Analysis ◽

Cassava Starch ◽

Control Agent ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Drilling Mud ◽

Loss Control

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Study of the Potential of Sodium Carbonate Extracted from Trona as a Drilling Fluid Additive

International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/jera.49.152 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 152-172

Author(s):

Petrus Nzerem ◽

Enyo June Adejoh ◽

Oghenerume Ogolo ◽

Ikechukwu Okafor ◽

Abdullahi Suleiman Bah Gimba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sodium Carbonate ◽

Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate ◽

Drilling Fluid ◽

Research Work ◽

Drill String ◽

Drilling Mud ◽

Purification Method ◽

Unique Role ◽

Hydrogen Carbonate ◽

Drilling Operations

Drilling additives play a unique role during drilling operations, from aiding in the control of various drilling challenges to successfully enhancing downhole drilling efficiency. pH enhancers are amongst the plethora of additives imported into Nigeria at exorbitant prices to aid in drilling operations. These additives includes NaOH, Na2CO3, Ca (OH)2 etc. These additives are used to improve the mud pH and mitigates drill string corrosion. The high cost of importation of these additives, has warranted the need for product substitution which should take advantage of the locally available resources. This paper evaluated the suitability of locally-sourced Trona, as a mud additive in drilling mud. Trona is known chemically as Sodium Sesquicarbonate or Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate. A distinguishing factor in this research work was the purification of Trona by extracting the compound of interest (Na2CO3) from it using the monohydrate process. The purification method involved crushing and screening of Trona as well as calcination, filtration and evaporation processes. The analysis of the Trona and the extracted product was performed using quantitative analysis and characterization tools such as FTIR and EDX. Further experimentation was carried out to evaluate the effects of the extracted sodium carbonate on the mud pH, rheology, and density of the water-based mud. The results were also compared to the results gotten from the addition of conventional Na2CO to similar mud samples. The extracted Na2CO was observed to increase the pH of the mud samples from 8.73 to 9.52 and the commercial Na2CO increased it from 8.73 to 10 and this value is still in the range of API standard. The pH enhancers from both sources also had effect on the mud rheological properties. This indeed showed that the extracted Na2CO from Trona acted as drilling fluid pH enhancer and hence possess the potential for usage in the industry.

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