Improvement in filtration properties of water-based drilling fluid by nanocarboxymethyl cellulose/polystyrene core–shell nanocomposite

Abstract

Since almost all drilling problems directly or indirectly relate to drilling fluid, improvement in drilling fluid significantly enhances drilling operations. Drilling fluid contains base fluid, suspended solid particles and chemicals. Recently, nanoparticles have been widely recommended for improvement in drilling fluid properties. The main purpose of this study was to improve the rheological and filtration properties of water-based drilling fluid through adding new additive carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC)/polystyrene core-shell nanocomposite. It compares filtration and rheological behavior of CMC, nanoCMC and core-shell nanocomposite. The core-shell nanocomposite was synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization method, and nanoCMC and core-shell nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer and thermogravimetric analysis. Fluid loss, mud cake thickness, viscosity, weight and pH of drilling fluid with core-shell nanocomposite additive were compared with conventional CMC (bulk CMC) and nanoCMC particles. Results showed a significant decrease in mud cake thickness and fluid loss when the core-shell nanocomposite was used, as compared with conventional CMC and nanoCMC. Viscosity of three additives has same trend with insignificant change while less yield point is obtained for drilling fluid containing core-shell nanocomposites. Mud weight and pH were almost the same for all three additives. Thus, the core-shell nanocomposite can be an alternative additive to control mud cake thickness and fluid loss while maintaining other main properties in an acceptable range.

Performance of carbonate calcium nanoparticles as filtration loss control agent of water-based drilling fluid

“…Nanoparticles have been proposed for wettability alteration, asphaltene deposition mitigation and removal, drilling fluid performance enhancement [7][8][9][10]. In drilling operations, they have been used for shale inhibition, fluid loss control, thermal conductivity improvement, enhancement of rheological properties [9,[11][12][13].…”

“…Silica nanoparticles have been employed to decrease water absorption into shale formation and reducing drilling problems such as pipe sticking, shale hydration and wellbore stability [6,[14][15][16]. CMC nanoparticles have been applied for rheology improvement, filter cake thickness reduction and filtration control [9,17]. Fe 3 O 4 has been used for improvement of drilling fluid properties at high pressure high temperature (HPHT) conditions [18].…”

The effect of 1,6-hexamethylenediamine on thermal stability and shale cutting recovery of heavy weight drilling fluids

“…Due to cationic property and size, these particles enter into clay platelets. Hence, water molecules are excluded from clay platelets, so that clay cannot be hydrated (Khodja et al 2010;Saboori et al 2018;Zhong et al 2011). In addition, surfaces and edges of shale have negatively charged in the pH range of 9-11 (Alemdar et al 2005).…”

The effect of drill–pipe rotation on improving hole cleaning using polypropylene beads in water-based mud at different hole angles

“…Drilling fluids have routinely been used in the oil and gas industry for several years, and such fluids have served many roles, such as balancing formation pressures in the wellbore, lubricating the drill string and so forth (Beck et al 1947;Bland et al 2006;Duan et al 2008;Hussaini and Azar 1974;Katende et al 2019;Ozbayoglu et al 2010;Pigott 1941;Saboori et al 2018;Salehi et al 2016;Saxena et al 2017;Sayindla et al 2017;Shu and Ma 2016;Sifferman et al 1974;Werner et al 2017). Nevertheless, an essential role of drilling fluid is to lift cuttings from the drill bit through the annular section and to the surface (Becker and Azar 1985;Clark and Bickham 1994;Frigaard et al 2017;Heshamudin et al 2019;Luo et al 1994;Majid et al 2018;Onuoha et al 2015;Shu and Zhang 2018a, b;Yu et al 2004).…”