Performance Evaluation of a Biomaterial in an Aqueous-Based Drilling Mud at High Pressure High Temperature

Abstract

Oil reserves are found in deep formations where the conditions of temperature and pressure are always high. These conditions have direct effects on the rheological properties of drilling fluid as they vary with increasing temperatures and pressures. Two sets of experiment were carried out on weighted and unweighted mud samples at a temperature of 250oF and 500psi pressure. The presence of locally sourced additives helped the mud to remain pseudoplastic at these conditions and also retained essential properties of the mud need for drilling operations. The plastic viscosities of the weighted and unweighted mud were 36cP and 27cP respectively. The yield stresses were 149lb/1002ft and 110lb/1002ft for the weighted and unweighted samples while the fluid loss volumes were approximately equal. The thickness of the cake for the weighted sample is 3.7mm and 4mm for the unweighted sample. The weighted sample with a reasonably higher PV has a better hole cleaning ability than the unweighted sample. Mucunna Solannie performed excellently to retain the essential properties of these formulations at 250oF and is therefore recommended as a HPHT drilling mud additive.