The use of durian rind as lost circulation material

Abstract

Worldwide oil and gas operators are expecting service companies to deliver integrated techniques for minimizing drilling problems, if not prevented. Lost circulation or lost return is known as the total or partial loss of drilling fluid while drilling. The significant and continuing loss of mud to a formation affects the oil industry. Numerous solutions and drilling practices are applied in the field to prevent or cure lost circulation. In this research work, an extensive laboratory works were conducted to investigate the feasibility of sealing fractures using durian rind as a lost circulation additive based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 13B for API Specification of Bridging Materials for Regaining Circulation (2009). In this experimental work, three types of samples were used, i.e., untreated durian durian rind (with pectin), treated durian rind (without pectin), and fibro seal. Chemical treatment was done on durian rind to remove natural pectin. FTIR analysis shows that NaOH is the most effective solvent for pectin removal. The experimental results revealed that 30 lb/bbl of untreated and treated coarse durian rind in water-based mud samples show an outstanding performance in combating lost circulation with slot widths from 1 to 3 mm as compared to coarse fibro seal which only shows an outstanding performance for 1 mm slot disc and also in marble bed test with lost mud volume of 10 and 25 ml respectively compared to 30 lb/bbl of coarse fibro seal with mud loss volume of 150 ml. TGA analysis shows that alkaline treatment has improved thermal properties of durian rind. Besides that, the rough surface of treated durian rind fibers has successfully interlocked them over the fracture and subsequently formed a tough bridge which results in the prevention of lost circulation.