Nanoparticles performance as fluid loss additives in water based drilling fluids

Abstract

Nanoparticles are used to study the rheological characteristics of drilling fluids. Nanoparticles have high surface to volume ratio, therefore only small quantity is required to blend in the drilling fluid. This research evaluates the performance of nanosilica and multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as fluid loss additives in water based drilling fluid with various nanoparticles concentration and temperature. The results show that plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength of drilling fluid increases as the concentration of nanoparticles increased. Drilling fluid with nanosilica gives the highest filtrate loss of 12 ml and mudcake thickness of 10 inch at 1 g concentration at 300°F. However, drilling fluid with MWCNT shows a decreasing trend in fluid loss and mudcake thickness. The results also show that xanthan gum containing 1 g of MWCNT gives 4.9 ml fluid loss and mudcake thickness of 4 inch at 200°F. After aging, plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength of mud containing nanoparticles decrease significantly especially for 1 g of nanosilica and 0.01 g MWCNT. Fluid loss and mudcake thickness increased when the mud is exposed to temperature above 250°F. The results showed that xanthan gum with MWCNT gives a better rheological performance.