Proposing a New Eco-Friendly Drilling Fluid Additive to Enhance the Filtration Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluid Systems

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to develop a new material used to control the seepage losses and combat issues regarding thick mud cake. The plan is to develop a biodegradable waste material from Grass, which is environmentally friendly to be utilized as an alternative material to address filtration problems. Raw material from local Grass in the USA was used to construct the fibrous fluid loss control agent (Grass Powder). The lab procedure consisted of crushing and grinding process to assemble the samples to be ready for preparation. Spud mud samples were used as a guide to indicate filtration control. The material was tested to generate results from the experiments conducted at surface conditions to determine the reduction in the volume of filtrate and mud cake. Based on the experiments conducted, Grass Powder (GP) can be applied to treat problems associated with the seepage loss in the drilling operations. The grass availability, being eco-friendly, low cost, and the simple method of Grass Powder preparation by using grinding and crushing can prove to be a suitable replacement for conventional materials used to control filtration.

Then, the results of Grass Powder were compared to starch, commonly used conventional additive. The results showed that Grass Powder decreased the fluid loss by 44% at 1% (7 grams) concentration of GP, and the filter cake was enhanced as well when comparing it to the reference fluid. While the starch material showed an improvement in seepage loss by 40% at 1% (7 grams) concentration when comparing it to the reference fluid. In addition, starch was less efficient in improving the filter cake as compared to Grass Powder. Consequently, GP laboratory outcomes slightly showed better performance as compared to starch additive, suggesting the feasibility of Grass Powder to be used as fluid loss control agents.

In brief, these experimental results exhibit that Grass Powder has the potential to be utilized as biodegradable drilling fluid additives replacing chemical additives and reducing the amount of non-biodegradable waste disposed to the environment.

Meeting Name

SPE Gas and Oil Technology Showcase and Conference 2019, GOTS 2019 (2019: Oct. 21-23, Dubai, UAE)

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Research Center/Lab(s)

Center for Research in Energy and Environment (CREE)

Keywords and Phrases

Crushing; Drilling fluids; Environmental protection; Grinding (machining); Infill drilling; Mud logging; Risk management; Security systems; Seepage; Starch; Water filtration, Alternative materials; Biodegradable wastes; Conventional additives; Conventional materials; Drilling fluid additives; Filtration problems; Powder preparation; Water based drilling fluids, Additives

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-161399704-8

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2019

Link to Full Text

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