Application of Organoclays in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids: A Review

Mahmoud, Ali; Gajbhiye, Rahul; Elkatatny, Salaheldin

doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c07679

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 100 publications

(210 reference statements)

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“…Drilling fluids, also known as drilling muds, are critical components in drilling operations for oil and gas extraction. These fluids perform various functions that involve cooling and lubricating the drill bit, carrying the cuttings to the surface, controlling formation pressures, and maintaining wellbore stability. − Drilling fluids can be classified into three main types: water-based, oil-based, and synthetic-based, each with unique properties and applications. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organophilic phyllosilicates are a subset of these minerals that have been modified to have an affinity for organic molecules. This modification is typically achieved through an ion exchange process where inorganic cations (such as Na + , K + , or Ca 2+ ) in the mineral structure are replaced with organic cations (such as quaternary ammonium ions). , The resulting organophilic phyllosilicates exhibit a range of chemical and physical properties, including hydrophobicity, swelling capacity, thermal stability, thixotropy, and high surface area. , In the oil and gas industry, organophilic phyllosilicates are used as additives in drilling muds. Their ability to swell in organic liquids helps seal the walls of boreholes, control the viscosity of drilling fluids, and facilitate the removal of drill cuttings from the well. , …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 45 , 46 The resulting organophilic phyllosilicates exhibit a range of chemical and physical properties, including hydrophobicity, swelling capacity, thermal stability, thixotropy, and high surface area. 5 , 11 In the oil and gas industry, organophilic phyllosilicates are used as additives in drilling muds. Their ability to swell in organic liquids helps seal the walls of boreholes, control the viscosity of drilling fluids, and facilitate the removal of drill cuttings from the well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their ability to swell in organic liquids helps seal the walls of boreholes, control the viscosity of drilling fluids, and facilitate the removal of drill cuttings from the well. 5 , 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Effect of Claytone-EM on the Performance of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

Mahmoud,

Gajbhiye,

Elkatatny

2024

ACS Omega

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This study provides a detailed characterization and evaluation of Claytone-EM as a rheological additive to enhance the performance of oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) under high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. It also offers a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of Claytone-EM with an existing organoclay, analyzing their mineral and chemical compositions, morphologies, and particle sizes. A series of experiments are performed to evaluate Claytone-EM’s influence on crucial drilling mud properties, such as mud density, electrical stability, sagging tendency, rheology, viscoelastic properties, and filtration properties, to formulate a stable and high-performing OBDF. Results indicated that Claytone-EM had no significant impact on mud density but remarkably enhanced emulsion stability. Claytone-EM effectively mitigated sagging issues under both static and dynamic conditions, leading to improvements in the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), apparent viscosity (AV), and YP/PV ratio. The PV, YP, AV, and YP/PV ratios were improved by 11, 85, 28, and 66% increments, respectively, compared with those of the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The addition of Claytone-EM resulted in enhancing gel strength and improving the filtration properties of the drilling fluid. The filtration volume was reduced by 2% from 5.0 to 4.9 cm3, and the filter cake thickness had a 13% reduction from 2.60 to 2.26 mm. These findings highlight Claytone-EM as a valuable additive for enhancing OBDF performance, particularly under challenging HPHT conditions. Its ability to provide emulsion stability, reduce static and dynamic sag, and control filtration holds the potential to enhance drilling operations, minimize downtime, and bolster wellbore stability. This study acknowledges certain limitations, including its temperature range, which could benefit from exploration at extreme temperatures. Additionally, the absence of flow experiments limits a comprehensive understanding of sag effects, and further research and field-scale evaluations are recommended to validate and optimize the application of Claytone-EM in OBDFs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their ability to swell in organic liquids helps seal the walls of boreholes, control the viscosity of drilling fluids, and facilitate the removal of drill cuttings from the well. 5 , 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evaluating the Effect of Claytone-EM on the Performance of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

Mahmoud,

Gajbhiye,

Elkatatny

2024

ACS Omega

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“…Drilling fluids are special fluids that are used in the process of drilling oil and gas wells. They serve a variety of purposes during the drilling process including lubricating and cooling the drill bit, carrying drilled cuttings to the surface, maintaining wellbore stability, and preventing formation damage or blowouts by controlling pressure imbalances between subsurface formations and the wellbore 1 – 5 . There are various types of drilling fluids, which can be broadly classified into two main categories namely water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs) and oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) 6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the efficacy of novel organoclay as a rheological additive for enhancing the performance of oil-based drilling fluids

Mahmoud,

Gajbhiye,

Elkatatny

2024

Sci Rep

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Oil-based drilling fluids (OBDFs) are extensively used in the drilling industry due to their superior performance in challenging drilling conditions. These fluids control wellbore stability, lubricate the drill bit, and transport drill cuttings to the surface. One important component of oil-based drilling fluids is the viscosifier, which provides rheological properties to enhance drilling operations. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Claytone-IMG 400, a novel rheological agent, in enhancing the performance of OBDFs under high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions. A comparative analysis was conducted with a pre-existing organoclay (OC) to assess the improvements achieved by Claytone-IMG 400. The OCs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution (PSD) to identify their mineral and chemical compositions, morphologies, and particle sizes. The drilling fluid density, electrical stability, sagging tendency, rheological properties, viscoelastic properties, and filtration properties were studied to formulate a stable and high-performance drilling fluid. The results confirmed that the novel OC does not affect the drilling fluid density but enhances the emulsion stability with a 9% increment compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The sagging experiments showed that Claytone-IMG 400 prevented the sagging issues in both static and dynamic conditions. Also, Claytone-IMG 400 improved the plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and apparent viscosity (AV). The PV, YP, and AV were improved by 30%, 38%, and 33% increments respectively compared with the drilling fluid formulated with MC-TONE. The YP/PV ratio increased with a 6% increment from 1.12 to 1.19. Moreover, the gel strength (GS) was significantly increased, and the filtration properties were enhanced. The filtration volume was reduced by 10% from 5.0 to 4.5 cm3, and the filter cake thickness had a 37.5% reduction from 2.60 to 1.89 mm. The novelty of this study is highlighted by the introduction and evaluation of Claytone-IMG 400 as a new rheological additive for safe, efficient, and cost-effective drilling operations. The results indicate that Claytone-IMG 400 significantly improves the stability and performance of OBDFs, thereby reducing wellbore instability and drilling-related problems.

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