Effect of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on the Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Muhammad Awais Ashfaq Alvi, Mesfin Belayneh, Sulalit Bandyopadhyay and Mona Wetrhus Minde
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Muhammad Awais Ashfaq Alvi: Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway
Mesfin Belayneh: Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway
Sulalit Bandyopadhyay: Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Mona Wetrhus Minde: Department of Mechanical, Structural Engineering and Materials Science, University of Stavanger, N-4036 Stavanger, Norway

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: In recent years, several studies have indicated the impact of nanoparticles (NPs) on various properties (such as viscosity and fluid loss) of conventional drilling fluids. Our previous study with commercial iron oxide NPs indicated the potential of using NPs to improve the properties of a laboratory bentonite-based drilling fluid without barite. In the present work, iron oxide NPs have been synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The effect of these hydrophilic NPs has been evaluated in bentonite and KCl-based drilling fluids. Rheological properties at different temperatures, viscoelastic properties, lubricity, and filtrate loss were measured to study the effect of NPs on the base fluid. Also, elemental analysis of the filtrate and microscale analysis of the filter cake was performed. Results for bentonite-based fluid showed that 0.019 wt% (0.1 g) of NPs reduced the coefficient of friction by 47%, and 0.0095 wt% (0.05 g) of NPs reduced the fluid loss by 20%. Moreover, for KCl-based fluids, 0.019 wt% (0.1 g) of additive reduced the coefficient of friction by 45%, while higher concentration of 0.038 wt% (0.2 g) of NPs shows 14% reduction in the filtrate loss. Microscale analysis shows that presence of NPs in the cake structure produces a more compact and less porous structure. This study indicates that very small concentration of NPs can provide better performance for the drilling fluids. Additionally, results from this work indicate the ability of NPs to fine-tune the properties of drilling fluids.

Keywords: drilling fluids; nanoparticles; iron oxide; KCl; bentonite drilling fluids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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