Al₂O₃ and CuO nanoparticles as promising additives to improve the properties of KCl‐polymer mud: An experimental investigation

Abstract

Drilling fluid technology is one of the most targeted and developed technologies worldwide due to the increasing demand for deeper drilling and more complicated wells. Several studies have shown numerous improvements in the mud characteristics when using nanoparticles (NPs) as additives. This study aims at examining the influence of using aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and copper oxide (CuO) NPs on the characteristics of KCl‐polymer mud, which is mainly used while drilling shaly formations. Two sizes of Al2O3‐NPs (15 and 40 nm) in addition to CuO‐NPs (40 nm) were investigated at different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 wt.%) using a standard viscometer and API filter press. Zeta potential (ζ‐potential), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to elaborate the effect of NPs on the properties of NPs‐based KCl‐polymer mud. The results showed higher potential of Al2O3‐NPs and CuO‐NPs to enhance the mud properties when used at small concentrations of 0.3–0.5 wt.%. Furthermore, NPs were found to play a key role in building efficient filter cakes with time during filtration (up to 90 min). Moreover, smoother surface morphologies and less porous structures of filter cakes were observed when using NPs with some agglomeration of CuO‐NPs due to higher density. The Herschel‐Bulkley model was found to provide a better fitting of the rheological data of NPs‐based KCl‐polymer mud than the Bingham plastic model. This approach would be able to virtually overcome any shale issue encountered by proactively plugging nanopores while inhibiting the water absorption in shale formations.

MoS2 Nanoparticle Effects on 80 °C Thermally Stable Water-Based Drilling Fluid

“…The quality of filter cake with respect to fluid loss and mechanical strength depends on the additives in the drilling fluids such as fluid loss control polymers as well as the packing of solids deposited in the mud cake. Several investigators have reported the impact of nanoparticles that reduce the filtrate loss such as (Fe 2 O 3 , [ 15 ], SnO 2 [ 17 ] MWCNT, Al 2 O 3 , CuO, TiO 2 [ 16 , 19 ], MWCNT, Graphene, [ 18 ], Fe 2 O 3 , [ 20 ]) and silica reduce the permeability of the shale by plugging the pore spaces [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…In this paper, MoS 2 impact on the thermal stable drilling fluids enhances the lubricity, electrical and heat conductivity properties without impacting the thermal stability rheological behavior of the base fluids. In terms of filtrate losses, several investigators reported that different nanoparticle reduced the filtrate loss [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. On the other hand, MoS 2 used in this paper did not show any reduction impact.…”

“…The impact of the nanoparticle on the drilling fluids depends on the atomic structure, the morphology, the concentration, and the surface chemistry interaction with the base fluid’s chemical ingredients both physically and chemically. Among the documented research results, the blending of nanoparticles with water-based drilling fluid enhances the rheological properties of drilling fluid [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], reduces filtrate loss and the filter cake thickness [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], reduces the permeability of the shale by plugging the pore spaces [ 21 , 22 , 23 ], reduces the coefficient of friction [ 16 , 17 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], increases the wellbore strength [ 27 ], enhances the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of the conventional drilling fluids [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], and inhibits shale swelling [ 20 , 33 , 34 ].…”

A universal concept for area‐selective assembly of metal oxide core‐shell nanoparticles, nanorods, and organic molecules via amide coupling reactions

“…[13] Particularly, dielectric AlO x NPs and TiO 2 NRs/NPs as a semiconductor demonstrating high mechanical-electrical-thermal stability, high-performance materials can be exclusively rearranged as a 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd core layers respectively on consecutive substrate surface. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] In addition, implementation of NRs into manufactured nanostructures is appropriate due to improvement of electrical properties in terms of electron transport rate. [25][26][27][28] Furthermore, the addition of NRs into NP system diminishes the resistance of charge transport.…”

Preface for the Special Issue Honouring Professor Hisham Nasr‐El‐Din

“…The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering is acknowledged for dedicating this special issue to the living memory of Dr. Nasr‐El‐Din. This acknowledgment is also extended to the authors who contributed to this special issue [ 1–28 ] as well as the guest editors:…”