New Generation of Environmentally Friendly Nanoshale Inhibitor Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Abstract

Environmentally friendly Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) has been used for the first time as a Nanoshale inhibitors in water-Based Drilling Fluids. Nanoshale inhibitors used in this study eliminate the use of toxic high potassium chloride (KCl) concentration in shale drilling operations and reduce the waste management associated cost with drilling fluid treatment and disposal. The dispersion test of MCM41 Nanoshale inhibitor with Silurian shale samples revealed to be an effective candidate with significant interaction reduction between the drilling fluids and the shale particles. This new Nanoshale inhibitor maintains the integrity of the cuttings and minimize the interaction of fluids with shale sections during the rolling test. XRD patterns has been conducted to determine the crystalline structure of shale and nanomaterial samples. Although the application of nanomaterials to improve the performance of conventional water-based drilling fluid was studied by researchers, it is the novelty of this research to eliminate use of KCl and to develop the new generation of Nanoshale water-based drilling fluid with economical consideration and lower environmental impact.