Development of Environmentally Friendly Oil Based Mud using Palm- Oil and Groundnut-Oil

Abstract

Abstract The development of an oil-based mud from palm oil and ground-nut oil was carried out in this work. It also compares the eco-toxicological properties of conventional base oil of diesel and vegetable oils derived from palm oil and groundnut oil. A drilling mud was formulated with both palm oil and groundnut oil and standard additives were added. Complete mud check was conducted on the mud in order to determine the rheological properties. Toxicity of diesel, palm oil and groundnut oil were compared by exposing corns planted on humus soil beds prepared with palm. Also, groundnut oil-based mud with an oil/water ratio of 90/10 was formulated successfully. When the humus beds planted with corn were exposed to diesel, palm oil and groundnut oil, the corn exposed to diesel lost its greenness and died while that exposed to palm oil and groundnut oil retain its greenness. Palm oil-based mud having 90/10 oil/water ratio and groundnut oil-based mud exhibited a 20% and 12% average rate of growth without losing all its greenness. Palm oil based mud formulated with different oil/water ratios congealed during the course of formulation. They exhibited high viscosity and progressive gel characteristics. In conclusion, oil based mud developed using Palm oil and groundnut oil should be encouraged since its highly biodegradable, have better eco-toxicological properties and the cost of treatment of the cuttings are lower compared to Oil-based drilling mud formulated with diesel, mineral and conventional synthetic oil. They can also be a source of income to the farmers producing the palm oil in large quantity and help in the growth of the Nigerian economy since we can supply the palm oil to oil and gas companies that need it to produce their mud for drilling operations. In addition to these benefits, the oil based mud formulated with palm oil and groundnut oil is also functionally as efficient as the ones formulated with diesel and conventional synthetic oils.