Utilizing Green-Carbon Nanotubes to Improve Drilling Fluids Rheological Properties: An Experimental Study

Abstract

A revolutionary technology for turning carbon dioxide into useful products, known as CARGEN®, has been developed at Texas A&M University. The technology features a setup of two reactors linked together, providing a special chance to transform two greenhouse gases, namely methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), into environmentally friendly carbon nanotubes (GCNTs) and syngas. This research looks into how the newly produced green CNTs affect the flow characteristics of different kinds of water-based drilling fluids, including bentonite mud and brine mud. Various amounts of carbon nanotubes (0.05 w/v %, 0.1w/v %, 0.15 w/v %, and 0.2 w/v%) were tested experimentally to see how they affect the flow characteristics of bentonite mud and brine mud (NaCl). The comparison of properties like plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and gel strength (GS) was made between the drilling fluids with carbon nanotubes and their control fluids using a rotating viscometer. The tests were carried out at temperatures ranging from 73°F to 200°F. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was employed for GCNT dispersion. The findings show that adding GCNT to water-based drilling fluids changes their rheological properties. For bentonite mud, the PV increased by 13% at 0.05 w/v % GCNT and stayed the same at higher concentrations at room temperature. At higher temperatures (120°F and 150°F), the PV increased with more GCNT, but then decreased at 0.2 w/v %. For brine mud, the PV decreased with more GCNT at higher temperatures, but the GCNT improved the PV more than the control mud, showing better thermal stability. The YP and GS also improved with more GCNT, especially at higher concentrations. These results suggest that GCNT have a significant role in improving the performance and stability of water-based drilling fluids in drilling operations. This research offers valuable insights into the potential use of carbon nanotubes in improving the performance and stability of drilling fluids, contributing to more sustainable industrial practices.