Formulation of Drilling Muds from Methyl Esters Obtained from the Transesterification of Vitellaria paradoxa Oil

Abstract

Vitellaria paradoxa oil was transesterified at temperatures between 55 and 75 ̊C, different stirring speeds and for 40 minutes each. The properties of the methyl ester were studied. Rate is first order with respect to methyl ester. The methyl esters were then used with other additives to prepare the drilling muds. The rheological properties of the muds were within the American Petroleum Institute (API) acceptable limits. The total filter volumes are less than 40 cm3 which is the highest volume allowed by API. The filter cakes are between 0.8 and 1.3 cm which fall between the lowest and highest values (0.6 and 2 cm respectively). The muds exhibited flat gel properties which all fall in API’s limits with values of 10/10 and 10/11 82 % oil muds. The 85 % mud exhibited flat gel property of 15/15.