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Environmentally friendly fluid loss control agent in water-based mud in oil

and gas drilling operations

Article in International Journal of Applied Engineering Research · January 2017

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 International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 12, Number 8 (2017) pp. 1520-1523
© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Environmentally Friendly Fluid loss Control Agent in Water-Based Mud for

Oil and Gas Drilling Operations

Onuh C.Y1, Igwilo K.C2, Anawe P.A.L3, Daramola Olakunle4 and Ogunwomoju Omotoke5

Lecturer II1, Senior Lecturer2, Senior Technologist4, Supervisory Student5

1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Covenant University,
Km 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan land, Ota Ogun State, Nigeria.

Abstract application of the mud. It is important to verify the technical

and environmental standard of mud additives before they are
The fluid loss properties of mud formulated with
been applied (Mohammed Amanullah & Yu, 2005). Researches
concentrations of coconut shell and/or corncobs was studied.
have been conducted on the use of fluid loss control additives
This study is focused on formulating water based drilling mud
to minimize the volume of fluid loss that sips into the formation
using corn cobs and coconut shell as additives in improving the
during drilling (Olatunde et al., 2012; Omotioma et al., 2015).
performance of the mud. The additives were varied in different
Samavati et al. (2014) modified fufu for an efficient fluid loss
concentrations and its impact were evaluated on the filtration
control agent using hydrochloric acid. The higher the fluid loss
properties using low pressure low temperature (LPLT) filter
into the formation, the tendency for pipe to get stuck as a result
press at 90 °C and 100 psi. The result of the formulated mud
of the cakes deposition on the wall of the wellbore. The
with corn cobs and coconut shell additives were compared to
performance of water base mud needs to be enhanced by using
that of the mud containing corn cobs alone, coconut shell alone,
mud additives that are environmentally friendly and can
and without any of the additives. The results showed that the
technically perform, modified starch is used at depths
combination of corn cobs and coconut shell reveals a lower
equivalent to 150 ° C below bottom hole temperature (Md
filtrate volume than individual coconut shell and corncobs.
Amanullah, 1993).
However, Corn cobs is a better fluid loss control agent than the
coconut shell. Drilling fluids have several functions been determined by the
additives added to the mud. Soaps, detergents, fatty acids,
Key Words: Fluid loss, water based mud, Corn cobs additive,
alcohols, graphite, and gilsonites etc are currently been
Coconut shell additive
modified and used to replace diesel which is not
environmentally friendly (Kercheville et al., 1986). The major
function of drilling fluid are to: cool and lubricate the bit and
INTRODUCTION drill string; clean the hole bottom; carry cuttings to the surface;
The concern for the environmental safety and environmental remove cuttings from mud at the surface; minimize formation
regulations is on an increasing demand on the oil and gas damage; control formation pressures; maintain hole integrity;
drilling industry The petroleum industry is encouraging assist in well logging operations; minimize corrosion of the
research on drilling fluids and its additives such as non-toxic drill string, casing, and that of the tubing; minimize torque,
viscosity reducers and fluid loss control additives in drilling drag, pipe-sticking and contamination problems; and also to
mud (Dosunmu & Joshua, 2010). The exploration and improve drilling rate in the wellbore (Adams & Charrier, 1985).
exploitation of hydrocarbon on offshore and onshore The base fluid is important in determining the properties of a
environment suggest the use of environmentally friendly drilling mud but more importantly, it acts as a carrier for mud
drilling mud and its additives thereby preventing destruction of
additives which are the final determinants of the muds
aquatic bodies such as the fishes, coastal areas and the oceans
properties. Additives are used in drilling fluids during
etc. and also the terrestrial environment such as the pollution of
formulation to achieve several purpose such as the viscosity
plants. Environmental regulations encourages the use of water
control, weighting control additives, rheology control
based drilling fluid and its application in areas where oil based additives, emulsifiers, pH control additives, and filtration
drilling fluids have previously been used due to their control additives. The filtrate of a drilling fluid refers to that
challenges (Tehrani et al., 2009). In many countries engaging
liquid portion of the system that is driven through the filter cake
in offshore oil and gas exploration and production, the
and into the formation as a result of the difference between the
performance of toxicity test on drilling fluid additives and
hydrostatic pressure of the mud column and the formation
whole drilling mud is required before they can be disposed
pressure. Filtration control additives reduce the amount of fluid
(Neff et al, 2000). lost into the formation during drilling. Bentonite, various
The technical performance of drilling fluid cannot be over- manufactured polymers, starches, and thinners or deflocculants
looked, however, the environmental impact of this mud and its all function as filtration-control agents. Examples of filtration
additives plays an important role as it determines the additives that have gain efficiency are starch, guar gum,


Corresponding Author : Onuh, C.Y

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

polysacchsrides, acrylic polymers, and organic thinners etc.

(Adams & Charrier, 1985).
Formulation of mud sample
Due to the high environmental demands on the oil and gas
Mud samples without coconut shell and corn cobs
industry in preventing the destruction of the marine resources
(MWTCSCC)
and costal habitat, the need for environmentally friendly mud
additives became a priority. This has made the manufacturing Mud samples with corn cobs (MWCC)
of chemicals and mud additives very important by using local
Mud sample with coconut shell (MWCS)
materials which are been disposed.
Mud samples with combination of coconut shell and corn cobs
This research work is aimed at investigating the effect of locally
sourced biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials (MWCSCC)
usually not exploited for industrial purposes, such as the corn Table 1: Concentration of Mud Samples
cobs obtained from Zea mays and coconut shell from Cocos
nucifera on the rheological properties which determines the Mud samples MWTCSCC MWCC MWCS MWCSCC
performance of drilling mud. As the demand for oil and gas Bentonite (g) 20 20 20 20
increases, so does the need for economic techniques to recover Barite (g) 80 80 80 80
these resources. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research
Water (ml) 350 350 350 350
on environmentally friendly, cost effective, and technologically
acceptable materials that could be used in enhancing the Corn cobs (g) NIL 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 NIL NIL
performance of drilling mud. Coconut shell (g) NIL NIL 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 NIL
Corn cobs and NIL NIL NIL 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
coconut shell (g)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The equipment used in this work includes the mud balance,
Table 1 shows the sample materials used in formulating the
rotary viscometer, agitator, spatula, weighing balance, wash
mud samples without corn cobs and coconut shell, with corn
bottle, measuring cylinder, beaker, stop watch, mixer, grinding
cobs alone, coconut shell alone, and with combination of corn
machine, pH meter and low pressure low temperature (LPLT)
cobs and coconut shell. It can be seen from the table that
filter press. The raw materials used are bentonite, barite, water,
samples with corn cobs alone, coconut shell alone, and
corn cobs and coconut shell.
combination of corncobs and coconut shell were varied in
concentrations of 2 to 10 g. This is used to compare and
investigate what impact corn cobs and/or coconut shell will
Experimental Procedure
have on the filtration properties of the water base mud.
The corn cobs and coconut shell were prepared according to the
method adopted by (Akpan et al., 2006). They were sourced,
cleaned, dried, and grinded using a grinding machine. The raw RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
materials used in the mud formulation were measured using the
The impact of corn cobs and coconut shell applied as a fluid
graduated cylinder and electronic balance. The mud samples
loss control agent in mitigating the filtration properties of water
were formulated without corncobs and coconut shell, in the
base mud in different concentrations was investigated at 90 °C
presence of coconut shell alone, presence of corn cobs alone,
and 100 psi. The result of the filtrate volume was measured to
and combination of the corn cobs and coconut shell. The raw
determine the most efficient fluid loss control agent between
materials were measured and added one after the other in
the corncobs and coconut shell.
intervals of 5 minute into a steel cup, and properly mixed using
the Hamilton Beach Mixer containing 350 ml of water
measured using the measuring cylinder. The mixer is been
powered to rotate while mixing the mud samples for 30 minutes Experimental Result
until homogeneous mixture is achieved. The first experiment Mud Samples without Coconut shell and Corn cobs
was performed without the corn cobs and coconut shell inorder (MWTCSCC)
to properly compare and analyze the effect of the coconut shell
and/or corn cobs. Further experiment were conducted in the Table 2: Properties of Mud Samples
presence of the coconut shell and/or the corn cobs in different Physical properties Value
concentrations of 2 g, 4 g, 6 g, 8 g, and 10 g. The mud balance
was used to measure the density of the mud, and the LPLT pH 10
Filter Press after being pressurized, fitted with a filter medium Mud density (ppg) 8.7
was used to measure the fluid loss i.e. the filtrate volume from Fluid loss (ml) 27
the drilling fluid .

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

Mud Samples with Corn cobs (MWCC) Mud density (ppg) 8.76 8.81 8.92 9.0 9.18
Table 3: Properties of Mud Samples Fluid loss (ml) 24 23 22 21 20

Physical properties Concentration of Corn cobs

2g 4g 6g 8g 10 g Mud Samples with Combination of Coconut Shell and Corn
cobs (MWCSCC)
pH 10 10 9 9 9
8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Table 5: Properties of the Mud Samples
Mud density (ppg)
Fluid loss (ml) 22 21 20 19 18 Physical Concentration of combined Coconut shell
properties and Corn Cobs
2g 4g 6g 8g 10 g
Mud Sample with Coconut Shell (MWCS)
pH 10 9 9 9 9
Table 4: Properties of the Mud Samples
Mud density 9.6 9.43 9.21 9.43 9.6
Physical properties Concentration of Coconut Shell (ppg)
2g 4g 6g 8 g 10 g Fluid loss (ml) 20 19 18 17 16
pH 10 10 10 10 9

30

25
Volume of Fluid loss (ml)

20

15

10

0
2g 4g 6g 8g 10 g
Concentration of additives (g)

Corncobs and coconut shell Coconut shell Corncobs

Figure 1: Effect of Additives on the Fluid Loss

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS mud samples without any local material than with the local
materials
Table 2, 3, 4, 5 shows a laboratory measurement of the mud
properties from mud formulated without the coconut shell and Figure 1 shows the effect of the local materials on fluid loss of
corn cobs, with corncobs, coconut shell, combination of the water based mud. The combination of coconut shell and
coconut shell and corncobs respectively. The pH values are corncobs reveals a better fluid loss than coconut shell alone or
determined using a pH meter, mud densities are determined corncobs alone, but corncobs shows a lower fluid loss than the
using mud balance, and fluid loss are measured using LPLT coconut shell.
filter press.
There is a decrease in the pH values with increase in the
CONCLUSION/CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
concentration of corncobs alone, coconut shell, combination of
coconut shell and corncobs. Increase in concentration of The following conclusions are drawn from the analysis made
corncobs, coconut shell leads to a proportional increase in the from the experimental result:
density of the mud while a decrease of mud density is observed
in the presence of the combination of coconut shell and 1. The local material is a potential pH modifier
corncobs. The coconut shell increases the mud density more 2. Corn cobs is a better fluid loss control agent than
coconut shell but the combination of coconut shell and
than that of the corncobs. The filtrate volume is higher in the
corncobs yield a better result.

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© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

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