Utilization of Nano and Micro Particles to Enhance Drilling Mud Rheology

Abstract

Nanoparticles have been used to overcome the limitations of drilling oil and gas wellbores under harsh conditions of high pressure and high temperature (HPHT). In the present work, calcium carbonate (CaCO3: 5 µm particles), graphene (powder and platelets) and carbon nano sphere nanoparticles were used as rheology enhancer and fluid loss agent for HTHP drilling fluid technology. The results revealed that by adding only 0.1 wt% of nanoparticles to ester-based drilling mud improved the stability for drilling deep and ultra-deep wells up to 230°C. Furthermore, adding graphene powder gave more effective results comparing to graphene platelets and carbon nano sphere. The mud can plug 10 µm of formation size with 8 ml of filtration and 775 mD of permeability using (21/2 × 1/4 ) inch of ceramic disc. The nanoparticle enhanced ester-based drilling fluid also showed superior rheology, fluid loss amount and mud cake thickness. The application of nano ester based drilling fluid is in oil and gas drilling industry.