Feasibility Study of Biodegradable Vegetable Peels as Sustainable Fluid Loss Additives in Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Olajide Ibrahim Oladipo, Foad Faraji, Hossein Habibi (), Mardin Abdalqadir, Jagar A. Ali and Perk Lin Chong
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Olajide Ibrahim Oladipo: Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Foad Faraji: Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Hossein Habibi: Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Mardin Abdalqadir: Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Jagar A. Ali: Department of Geology, Palacký University, 17. Listopadu 12, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Perk Lin Chong: Department of Engineering, School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK

J, 2025, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-28

Abstract: Drilling fluids are vital in oil and gas well operations, ensuring borehole stability, cutting removal, and pressure control. However, fluid loss into formations during drilling can compromise formation integrity, alter permeability, and risk groundwater contamination. Water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs) are favored for their environmental and cost-effective benefits but often require additives to address filtration and rheological limitations. This study explored the feasibility of using vegetable waste, including pumpkin peel (PP), courgette peel (CP), and butternut squash peel (BSP) in fine (75 μm) and very fine (10 μm) particle sizes as biodegradable WBDF additives. Waste vegetable peels were processed using ball milling and characterized via FTIR, TGA, and EDX. WBDFs, prepared per API SPEC 13A with 3 wt% of added additives, were tested for rheological and filtration properties. Results highlighted that very fine pumpkin peel powder (PP_10) was the most effective additive, reducing fluid loss and filter cake thickness by 43.5% and 50%, respectively. PP_10 WBDF maintained mud density, achieved a pH of 10.52 (preventing corrosion), and enhanced rheological properties, including a 50% rise in plastic viscosity and a 44.2% increase in gel strength. These findings demonstrate the remarkable potential of biodegradable vegetable peels as sustainable WBDF additives.

Keywords: water-based drilling fluid additive; drilling fluid lost control; vegetable waste; sustainable drillings; rheological properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 I10 I12 I13 I14 I18 I19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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