Investigation of drilling mud based on bentonite, Using sepiolite nanoparticles in it

Sepiolite nanoparticles were added to the bentonite-based drilling mud to control its properties, and the effects of sepiolite nanoparticles on rheological properties and loss of the bentonite-based drilling mud filtration at different temperature and pressure conditions were examined by experiments. Plastic viscosity, yield point, and fluid loss were measured at different temperature and pressure conditions for the bentonite-based drilling muds with and without sepiolite nanoparticles. The core flooding experiments were also performed under reservoir pressure and temperature, and fluid loss and formation damage were measured. The results indicate that sepiolite nanoparticles can be used to enhance the plastic viscosity and yield point of saline and fresh bentonite-based drilling mud; the bentonite-based drilling mud with sepiolite nanoparticles demonstrates the stability of rheological properties over a wide range of temperature and pressure, particularly at high temperatures and pressures. Moreover, sepiolite nanoparticles decrease fluid loss and the permeability at reservoir pressure and temperature. Sepiolite nanoparticles are an ideal additive for bentonite-based drilling mud.

Keywords:

Bentonite-based drilling mud , Drilling fluid property , High temperature-high pressure , Sepiolite , Nanoparticles