Graphene-Based Aqueous Drilling Muds as Efficient, Durable, and Environmentally Friendly Alternatives for Oil-Based Muds

Abstract

Despite intense studies for numerous scenarios, the potential of graphene as a lubricant additive for oil and gas drilling applications remains rarely investigated. This study investigates the influence of graphene on the tribological performance of three different aqueous drilling fluids: distilled water(DW)-, artificial seawater (KCl brine)-, and potassium chloride (KCl) polymer water-based muds. The presence of graphene resulted in remarkably improved lubricity and wear-resistance in different drilling fluids. Specifically, pure distilled water demonstrated an excessive coefficient of friction (COF) of 1.30, while its mixture with 1.25− 5.0 wt % graphene delivered COF values as low as 0.21, showing a reduction in friction by 70−85% and wear by 66−90%. As the graphene content increased in the KCl polymer water-based mud, the effectiveness of graphene in improving the lubricity and wearresistance attenuated consistently. For saturated KCl brine, graphene in the same concentration range reduced the COF from 0.62 to 0.25, representing 46−60% reduction in COF and 23−61% reduction in wear. For KCl polymer water-based mud, the addition of graphene in the same concentration range was able to reduce the COF from 0.49 to a minimum of 0.33, representing a reduction in COF and wear by 22−33 and 68−98%, respectively. The higher tribological improvement of the graphene/distilled water is attributed to the filling of the abrasive grooves with graphene sheets. On the other hand, the presence of small particles in KCl brineand KCl polymer water-based mud on the wear tracks prevents this phenomenon, causing lower tribological enhancements compared to distilled water. A possible explanation for the low friction and wear reduction is that the graphene, as a two-dimensional material, shears easily at the sliding contact interface. Furthermore, in the absence of abrasive micro−nanoparticles, the filling of the grooves with graphene sheets intensifies the tribological improvements.

Preparation and characterization of polyethylene glycol/chitosan composite water-based wound healing lubricant

“…Water-based lubricants exhibiting good biocompatibility with the human body and a high lubrication effect have already been developed by some researchers ( Qin et al, 2018 ; Lu et al, 2021 ). These are composed mainly of deionized water and lubricant additives, such as nanoparticles ( Chen et al, 2021 ; Perumalsamy et al, 2021 ; Rahman et al, 2021 ; Sun et al, 2021 ; Tang et al, 2022 ), polymers ( Liu et al, 2021 ; Perumalsamy et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ; Zheng et al, 2021 ), and ionic liquids ( Tang et al, 2018 ; Wang et al, 2018 ; Tang et al, 2019 ; Amann et al, 2020 ; Dong et al, 2020 ). Various types of additives are used for slightly different purposes.…”

Utilization of Eco-Friendly Waste Generated Nanomaterials in Water-Based Drilling Fluids; State of the Art Review

“…Typically, lubricity of drilling fluids is measured via torque reduction, which can be determined using the coefficient of friction (CoF). The CoF is defined as the ratio of the force of the friction between two bodies and the force pressing them together [ 146 ]. Ideally, a good lubricant should possess favorable properties, including high viscosity, high lubricating film strength, low flammability, low corrosion, and high solubility, and should also be non-toxic [ 147 , 148 ].…”

Recent advances in the applications of graphene materials for the oil and gas industry

“…1 Their two-dimensional structure, which slides easily between layers, allows they to be used as a drilling fluid lubricant. 2 Their adsorption properties allow they to improve filtration performance in oily wastewater treatment. 3 The amphiphilic nature of modified graphene materials allows them to modify wettability and reduce interfacial tension, which can be applied for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).…”

“…Graphene is a material formed with carbon atoms connected by sp 2 hybridization and has a single layer of two-dimensional honeycomb lattice structure. It is extremely strong and very ductile, and is superhydrophobic and superlipophilic.…”