Organic polymers are commonly used to control filtrate loss in water-based drilling fluids both in circulating and non-circulating periods during drilling operations. In Nigeria, the over dependence on these polymers to achieve this function of drilling fluid is worrisome on the overall well drilling cost. Therefore, a substitute for these polymers with locally available materials is indispensable. In lieu of this fact, an agro by-product, rice husk was evaluated as a possible filtration loss control additive in water-based drilling mud and the results compared with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyanionic cellulose (PAC) using static fluid loss measurement approach. The results obtained depict that with a concentration of 20g content of rice husk to 350mL mud (about 20lb/bbl) there was a decrease of 64.89% in fluid loss compared to 62.77% and 59.57% for CMC and PAC respectively at a content of 10g per 350mL mud. Additionally, filter cake thickness measurement from the husk showed a decrease of 3.03% and 8.57% respectively when compared to CMC and PAC. Thus, exploitation of rice husk as fluid loss control additive in water-based mud would be a welcome development in the oil and gas industry since its characteristics of high resistance to water penetration and thermal stability would be applicable to deep wells where high temperature is anticipated since CMC and PAC temperatures degrade at this condition.

Petrochemicals play a vital role in the economy of any nation. The products of the industry are the building blocks in many industries as they deepen the forward and backward linkages of the petroleum sector with the rest of the economy. The industry uses a variety of hydrocarbon feedstock such as different cuts of naphtha from refinery and natural gas. One of the problems facing the industry is lack of reliable feedstock supplies. Nigeria has the potential to be a major petrochemicals producer. With proven gas reserves currently estimated at 187 tcf, not much has been accomplished with respect to the effective exploitation and utilization of this resource as most of the nation's natural gas production has been flared, liquefied for export or re-injected to enhance greater crude oil recovery. It has become imperative to further find ways to exploit and utilize the nation's natural gas reserves and translate it to the improvement of the nation's economy. Steam reforming of natural gas is one of the avenues for conversion of natural gas to petrochemicals. This paper, however, reviews various ways of utilizing natural gas, examines the process details of steam reforming of natural gas as a route to optimized natural gas utilization and industrialization in Nigeria. Syngas (synthesis gas) is a versatile feedstock for most petrochemicals and chemical intermediates. Thus utilizing natural gas in this way would strengthen the petrochemical industry making it possible for the country to change from raw materials to value-added products supplier, boost the economy and solve the "hydra-headed" problem of unemployment in Nigeria with its multiplier employment effect.

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