Performance Study of Afzeila Africana-Marantha Arundinacea Nanoparticles Assisted for Fluid Loss Control in Water-Based Drilling Fluid

DOI: 10.14800/IOGR.1320

Abstract

Drilling fluids (DF) play a vital role in oil and gas well drilling operations, particularly given the increasing economic, technical, and environmental challenges associated with different wells and fields. However, during drilling, DF often experiences filtrate (fluid) loss, which reduces the continuous phase volume and leads to an increase in mud cake thickness. To address this issue, various additives have been employed to enhance the properties of the mud filter cake and mitigate fluid loss. Conventional fluid loss additives, such as CarboxyMethyl Cellulose (CMC), have been widely used for this purpose; however, these chemicals are neither cost-effective nor environmentally sustainable, particularly in developing regions. Consequently, ongoing research seeks suitable local alternatives to replace these materials.

In this study, the efficacy of polymer-assisted nanoparticles for fluid loss control was evaluated. Biopolymers including Afzelia Africana (AA) and Maranta Arundinacea Root (MAR) were tested, along with Corncobs (CC) and Silica Oxide Nanoparticles (SiO₂) as nanoparticle additives. CMC served as the conventional material for comparison. Analytical methods including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), rheological analysis, and filtration tests were conducted. FTIR results revealed that CMC, AA, MAR, CC, and SiO₂ exhibited similar functional groups, such as alcohol, aromatic carboxylic acid, and isothiocyanate. Rheological testing demonstrated that the incorporation of SiO₂ and CC into AA-based and MAR-based water-based drilling fluids (WBDF) enhanced their rheological properties. Fluid loss tests further indicated that the inclusion of SiO₂ and CC improved the fluid loss control performance of the WBDFs, with CC having the most pronounced effect on both rheological and fluid loss performance. 

The study provides promising insights into sustainable and cost-effective approaches to improving drilling fluid performance using locally available resources, which could enhance drilling efficiency and reduce environmental impact.