The use of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in oil and gas well drilling operations has improved the filtration loss and mud cake properties of drilling muds. The introduction of starch has also reduced, for example, the viscosity, fluid loss, and mud cake properties of the drilling fluids. However, normal starch has some drawbacks such as low shear stress resistance, thermal decomposition, high retrogradation, and syneresis. Hence, starch modification, achieved through acetylation and carboxymethylation, has been introduced to overcome these limitations. In this study, modified starches, from cassava and maize, were used to enhance the properties of water-based muds under high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) conditions, and their performances were compared with that of the CMC. The mud samples added with acetylated cassava or maize starch exhibited the smallest filtrate volumes and filtrate losses within the American Petroleum Institute specification. Therefore, these modified starch-added muds could replace CMC as fluid loss agents since, unlike it, they can withstand HPHT conditions.
Several studies have been carried out, by researchers to predict multiphase flow pressure drop in the oil and gas industry, but yet there seems to be one being generally acceptable for accurate prediction of pressure drop. This is as a result of some constraints in each of these models, which makes the pressure drop predicted by the model far from accurate when compared to measured data from the field. This study is aimed at developing a multiphase fluid flow model in a vertical tubing using the Duns and Ros flow model. Data from six wells were utilized in this study and results obtained from the Modified model compared with that of Duns and Ros model along other models. From the result, it was observed that the newly developed model (Modified Duns and Ros Model) gives more accurate result with a R-squared value of 0.9936 over the other models. The Modified model however, is limited by the choice of correlations used in the computation of fluid properties.
A cost-effective and environmentally friendly biodegradable locally sourced alternative will be sought to reduce drilling fluid cost drilling operations. Moringa oleifera seed is a cheap, locally obtainable, and environmentally friendly additive. This study aims to determine the effect and suitability of locally processed Moringa oleifera seed powder (MSP) as an additive to improve the performance of water-based mud. The seeds were collected, prepared, and pulverized to a particle size of 75 microns. Varying concentrations (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, and 10.0 g) of the MSP were used to treat a simple mud sample, and their properties were determined at varying temperatures (26°C, 40°C, 50°C, 60°C, 70°C) using American Petroleum Institute (API) standard procedures. Mud samples treated with Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) served as control. From the result, it was observed that the pH and the mud weight were not affected by MSP concentration. The mud sample plastic viscosity improved by 18% as MSP concentrations increased. The YP/PV ratios show an enhancement at all Moringa oleifera seed powder concentrations relative to the control mud except for the sharp decrease at 70°C. The test sample processed a greater fluid loss volume and filter cake thickness for all concentrations. The physical examination of the mud filter cake of the additive depicted that they have slippery, smooth, and soft mud cakes. The results elucidated MSP suitability in some traditional chemical materials in the oil and gas industry.
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