Treatment of Prodigious Reactive Shale in the Permian Basin Using High-Performance Drilling Fluid: A Successful Case Study

In the Permian basin, Spraberry Trend is one of the formations that markedly contribute to the unconventional shale production in the U.S. lately. Unusual shale reactivity was encountered while drilling several horizontal wells, leading to wellbore instability issues. Consequently, shakers’ screens blockage increased the mud losses and drilling time, leading to an increased non-productive time (NPT). This paper addresses the challenges and causes of the formation instability issues resulted from shale interaction with the used drilling fluid and presents the timely actions taken to mitigate such problems. During the drilling operation, several rock samples were collected at different depth intervals from the shale shaker. Rock samples were analyzed to identify the clay and minerals contents in the formations. The collected samples were first cleaned to remove the mud, dried, ground, and then characterized by an X-ray diffraction test (XRD) and microscopic imaging. After identifying the possible reasons for the wellbore instability, several timely actions were taken to mitigate this issue. These actions include: 1) increasing the emulsion stability, 2) increasing the water phase salinity (WPS), 3) decreasing the water phase volume, 4) adding wetting agent, 5) using wider screens for the shaker, and 6) controlling drilling parameters such as weight on bit and rotational speed. Afterward, wellbore stability, well control problem indicators, and drilling fluid properties, especially rheology, were closely monitored to identify any subsequent or unusual events. The geological and mineralogy studies show that the drilled formation contains high smectite and illite clay content, up to 49%, which was believed to be the main reason for the unusual shale reactivity. Replacing the existing screens (200 API) with wider screens (160 and 140 API) showed an insignificant effect in mitigating the screens blockage. The adopted method of reducing the rate of penetration (ROP) and increasing the circulation time helped significantly alleviate the screens blockage by reducing the cuttings production and giving more time for hole cleaning. Furthermore, the optimal hole cleaning successfully increased the formation's stability. Adding a wetting agent to the drilling mud did not impact the cuttings aggregations; however, it led to a decrease in the rheological properties; thus, adding more concentration of the viscosifier was required to maintain the fluid rheology. Increasing the water phase salinity (WPS) to over 230k ppm and the emulsion stability to over 700 mV was considered the backbone of the treatment plan that significantly resolved the issue by inhibiting the clay. Eventually, the critical considerations were pointed out.

PENGARUH UKURAN PARTIKEL KAOLIN TERHADAP MORTALITAS, PERTUMBUHAN DAN PERKEMBANGAN ULAT GRAYAK JAGUNG Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. SMITH)

Hama penting pada tanaman jagung yang baru-baru ini dilaporkan serangannya di Indonesia adalah Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ukuran partikel mineral mempunyai peranan penting pada keefektifan pengendalian serangga hama. Mineral yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kaolin. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh ukuran partikel mineral kaolin terhadap mortalitas, pertumbuhan dan perkembangan larva S. frugiperda. Metode penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan 7 perlakuan dan 4 ulangan. Perlakuan terdiri atas formulasi mineral kaolin konsentrasi 4% dengan ukuran saringan 100, 200, 300, 400 dan 500 mesh, kontrol air dan kontrol wetting agent+dispersant agent. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ukuran partikel mineral kaolin berpengaruh terhadap mortalitas, lama perkembangan, berat pupa dan kemunculan imago S. frugiperda. Mineral kaolin ukuran partikel 500 mesh menghasilkan mortalitas larva S. frugiperda (28,75%) yang berbeda nyata dengan kontrol (0,00%) pada 48 jam setelah perlakuan. Sementara itu, pada pengamatan 23 hari setelah perlakuan, semua ukuran partikel mineral kaolin yang diuji menyebabkan mortalitas larva S. frugiperda sebesar 31,25 – 51,25%, yang berbeda nyata dengan kontrol (0,00%). Perlakuan mineral kaolin 500 mesh menghasilkan total perkembangan larva dan pupa yang terlama yaitu 22,25 hari, berat pupa paling rendah yaitu 0,1506 g serta kemunculan imago normal yang terendah yaitu 8,00 ekor (dari 20 larva yang diberi perlakuan).

Certain Soil Surfactants Could Become a Source of Soil Water Repellency after Repeated Application

Repeated application of soil surfactants, or wetting agents, is a common practice for alleviating soil water repellency associated with soil organic coatings. However, wetting agents are organic compounds that may also coat soil particle surfaces and reduce wettability. For this experiment, hydrophobic sands from the field and fresh, wettable sands were collected and treated with either a polyoxyalkylene polymer (PoAP) or alkyl block polymer (ABP) wetting agent, or water only treatments served as a control. Following repeated treatment application and sequential washings, dissolved and particulate organic carbon (OC) were detected in the leachates of both sand systems. The total amount of OC recovered in leachates was 88% or less than the OC introduced by the wetting agents, indicating sorption of wetting agent monomers to soil particle surfaces regardless of soil hydrophobicity status. While ABP treatment did not alter solid phase organic carbon (SOC) in the sands studied, PoAP application increased SOC by 16% and 45% which was visible in scanning electronic microscopy images, for hydrophobic and wettable sands, respectively. PoAP application also increased the hydrophobicity of both sands that were studied. In contrast, ABP treatment increased the wettability of hydrophobic sand. Our results provide strong evidence that certain wetting agents may increase soil hydrophobicity and exacerbate wettability challenges if used repeatedly over time.

Potential effect of wetting agents added to agricultural sprays on the stability of soil aggregates

The presented research deals with the issue of the potential effect of adjuvants/wetting agents (WA) added to the spray mixture for stability of soil aggregates (SAS) in agricultural soil. Nine localities were chosen in the Czech Republic. Each locality was mapped using soil pits (depth min. 1.4 m). A total of 54 mixed samples were collected from the topsoil horizon in the selected localities. The samples were exposed to the action of four different types of wetting agents (organosilicone wetting agent; methyl ester of rapeseed oil; mixture of methyl ester palmitic and oleic acids; Isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate). SAS was determined before and after the addition of WA. Average values of SAS across the sampling point exhibited a demonstrable trend: the SAS value of control sample (without WA application) was at all times higher than in samples with the addition of WA (organosilicone wetting agent; mixture of methyl ester palmitic and oleic acids; Isodecyl alcohol ethoxylate), on average by more than 15 %. If the measured SAS values are compared in terms of overall means, it is obvious that the control variant always exhibited the highest SAS value (44.04 %) and the variants with the application of WA showed always SAS values lower by min. 16 %. All soil samples were also analysed for basic soil parameters (glomalin, Cox, pH, Na, P, Ca, K, Mg) in order to determine their potential influence on SAS and a possible elimination of the negative impact of WA. In this respect, only a significant influence of Cox content on SAS was recorded, which positively correlated with SAS.

Proses Pembuatan Komposit Matriks Logam Al5Cu4Mg/Al2O3(p) dengan Metode Pengadukan dan Tempa

AbstrakKomposit Matriks Logam (KML) merupakan salah satu material yang banyak digunakan di industri manufaktur terutama yang berbasis alumunium, karena logam ini mempunyai berat jenis yang rendah. Pada saat ini pembuatan KML bermatriks alumunium dengan penguat Al2O3 sudah banyak dibuat dan digunakan di industri. Proses pembuatan KML di Indonesia merupakan hal yang baru-baru ini ramai diminati, meskipun penelitian awal sudah dilakukan jauh sebelumnya. Faktor penting pada pembuatan KML adalah menghidari adanya keropos atau adanya porositas pada hasil produk. Oleh karena itu, pada percobaan ini setelah dilakukan proses pengadukan dilanjutkan dengan proses tempa untuk mengurangi adanya porositas tersebut. Bahan yang digunakan sebagai matriks adalah Al-5%Cu-4%Mg dimana Mg sebagai wetting agent, sedangkan penguat yang digunakan adalah 5 dan 10% Vf Al2O3. Pengujian mekanik yang dilakukan antara lain uji tarik, kekerasan dan keausan, sedangkan pengujian fisik, yaitu: metalografi, berat jenis, porositas, SEM/EDS dan XRD, untuk melihat fasa dan senyawa baru. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan dengan adanya penguat Al2O3 terjadi kenaikkan sifat mekanik antara lain dengan naiknya angka kekerasan dan naiknya nilai ketahanan aus. AbstractThe Metal Matrix Composite (MMCs) is one of the widely used materials in the manufacturing industry, especially those based on aluminum, because this metal has low specific gravity. At this time, aluminum matrix KML with Al2O3 reinforcement has been widely made and used in industry. The process of making MMCs in Indonesia have just developed recently, even tough the previous research have been conducted for a long time. The important factor in making MMCs in to prevent the porosity at it’s product. This is the reason why we conduct a forging process after the agitation process. The materials used as matrix is Al-5%Cu-4%Mg where Mg is the wetting agent, while the reinforcement used is 5 and 10% Vf Al2O3. Mechanical tests include: tensile, hardness and wear tests, while physical tests: metallography, specific gravity, porosity, SEM/EDS and XRD, to see new phases and compounds. With the addition of Al2O3 reinforcement there is an increase in mechanical properties, among others, by increasing the number of hardness and increasing wear resistance.

Testing of herbicidal systems for maize cultivation in the Steppe of Ukraine

Goal. To determine the agrarian and economic efficiency of different technological systems for herbicidal protection of maize depending on the weed harmfulness level and weather conditions. Methods. Field experiment — for the weeds and maize yield accounting, and calculation method — for determining of the technical and economic efficiency of herbicide systems. Results. We recorded a significant decrease in the inhibitory effect of soil herbicides without precipitation, at elevated air temperature and hot dry wind in the first 5—7 days after their application. Also we specified the best pre-emergence herbicide Acris SE containing the active ingredients: Dimethenamid P (280 g/l) + Terbuthylazine (250 g/l). The number of weeds was indicated according to the experiment variants before spraying crops and 21 days after the application of toxicants. The technical and economic efficiency of combined (pre-emergence + post-emergence herbicides) and mixture of post-emergence products for protection systems of maize was determined. Conclusions. Under arid conditions, within 5—7 days after the application of pre-emergence herbicides (in 2018, the average background weed infestation of crops — 37 pcs/m2), the chemical plant protection system based on a tank mixture of post-emergence herbicides was ahead in terms of technical efficiency, yield and profitability grain production: Frontier Optima CE (Dimethenamid, 720 g/l) + Stellar RK (Topramezone, 50 g/l + Dicamba, 160 g/l) + Metolat wetting agent. The manifestation of soil herbicide phytotoxicity in favorable weather (in 2019—2020, background weed infestation of crops 129—147 pcs/m2) was more effective when using a combined system for controlling harmful species in the maize production technology: Dual Gold KE (S-metolachlor, 960 g/l) — before sowing + Stellar RK (Topramezone, 50 g/l + Dicamba, 160 g/l) + Metolat wetting agent — post emergence application. The best pre-emergence chemical product was Acris SE (Dimethenamid P, 280 g/l + Terbuthylazine, 250 g/l).

Optimization of Flexographic Water-Based Ink Formulation for Polymer Films

In this study, the optimization of flexographic water-based ink formulation was carried out. The aim is to minimize the contact angle of the ink on polymer substrates. A factorial design was used to evaluate the effects and interactions of three factors, which are dispersant, wetting agent and antifoam concentration on the wettability of ink. The optimal conditions obtained from the desirable response are dispersant of 9.65%, wetting agent of 0.58% and antifoam of 0.55 %. Under these conditions, about 15O of contact angle is obtained. The validity of the statistical experimental strategies was verified by the ink samples prepared under the optimized conditions.