Rheological Properties Improvement of Treated Palygorskite Drilling Mud by Adding Prepared Nano Magnesium Oxide

Abstract

Attapulgite clay is a hydrated magnesium aluminum silicate mineral. Attapulgite clay stone in the Bahr al-Najaf region contains calcite and quartz minerals (43.4%. and 13.9% by weight), respectively. This work is devoted to develop the attapulgite clay found in Bahr Al-Najaf to be suitable for oil wells drilling. The goal of this project is to develop attapulgite mud that meets the American Petroleum Institute (API) for the application of oil well drilling mud in Bahr Al-Najaf. To achieve this objective, unwanted materials (calcite and quartz particles greater than 75 µm in diameter) should be removed and the attapulgite rods dispersed. To make attapulgite mud appropriate for oil well drilling mud. Wet sieving was used to remediate Iraqi attapulgite mud in this study. XRD and SEM tests were done to determine the metals and shape of the prepared Nano MgO to improve the rheological properties. The rheological parameters of attapulgite were measured using an ofite viscometer. Nano MgO was added to attapulgite in three proportions (0.02, 0.05, and 0.08) gm wt. Magnesium oxide showed a great contribution to apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity by 16% of attapulgite aqueous suspensions. The higher viscosity will provide better cuttings carrying capability during drilling fluid circulation especial at low velocity.