Development and Performance Evaluation of Hydrophobically Modified Nano-Anti-Collapsing Agents for Sustainable Deepwater Shallow Drilling

Jintang Wang (), Zhijun He, Haiwei Li, Jian Guan, Hao Xu and Shuqiang Shi
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Jintang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development, China University of Petroleum (East China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266580, China
Zhijun He: State Key Laboratory of Unconventional Oil & Gas Development, China University of Petroleum (East China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266580, China
Haiwei Li: Jiangsu Gas Storage Sub-Company, PipeChina West East Gas Pipeline Company, Zhenjiang 212000, China
Jian Guan: Qingdao NMEI Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266000, China
Hao Xu: Qingdao NMEI Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao 266000, China
Shuqiang Shi: College of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and Technology, Chongqing 401331, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Sustainable deepwater drilling for oil and gas offers significant potential. In this work, we synthesized a nanoscale collapse-prevention agent by grafting didecyldimethylammonium chloride onto spherical nano-silica and characterized it using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta-potential, and particle-size measurements, as well as SEM and TEM. Adding 1 wt% of this agent to a bentonite slurry only marginally alters its rheology and maintains acceptable low-temperature flow properties. Microporous-membrane tests show filtrate passing through 200 nm pores drops to 55 mL, demonstrating excellent plugging. Core-immersion studies reveal that shale cores retain integrity with minimal spalling after prolonged exposure. Rolling recovery assays increase shale-cutting recovery to 68%. Wettability tests indicate the water contact angle rises from 17.1° to 90.1°, and capillary rise height falls by roughly 50%, reversing suction to repulsion. Together, these findings support a synergistic plugging–adsorption–hydrophobization mechanism that significantly enhances wellbore stability without compromising low-temperature rheology. This work may guide the design of high-performance collapse-prevention additives for safe, efficient deepwater drilling.

Keywords: deepwater drilling; wellbore stability; nanomaterials; hydrophobic modification; multiple synergies; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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