Evaluating the Rheological Properties of Antioxidated Local Pseudo Oil Base Muds for Geothermal Drilling Environment

Richard Amorin, B. Bediako

Abstract


Vegetable or pseudo oils are environmentally friendly base fluids and have the potential to be considered for drilling purposes. However, due to their thermal instability in geothermal environments, they have not received much drilling applications. This study therefore utilised three antioxidants (Citric Acid, Red Onion Skin Extract, and Propyl Gallate) to thermally stabilise to enhance seven vegetable oils (jatropha oil, palm oil, palm-kernel oil, coconut oil, soyabean oil, and refined waste home-cooking oil) for geothermal drilling applications. Formulated mud samples were tested at temperatures of 48.9 oC (120 oF) and 93.3 oC (200 oF) for both aged and unaged conditions. Filtration tests were conducted at 121.1 oC (250 °F) and 3.4 mPa (500 psi differential pressure. Partial toxicity test on the mud samples were performed on both maize plant and tilapia fingerlings after been exposed to different concentrations of the base fluids. The rheological and fluid performances results obtained from the stabilised vegetable oils revealed good base-fluid compatibility with conventional oilfield mud additives. Most of the oil samples exhibited good pH, Gels, Electrical Stability, Plastic Viscosity, and Yield Point. Again, most of the mud samples displayed characteristics of the Yield-Power Law Model which is an indicator of a good drilling fluid. Cutting Carrying Indexes (CCI) recorded for the mud samples for both unaged and aged conditions also indicated that majority of the mud samples if used for drilling purposes will result in better hole cleaning (CCI ≥ 0.50). Generally, the technical performances of these conditioned oils when compared with API recommended values exhibited equally good performances and therefore may serve as potential replacements for commercial oil-based fluids. The exposure of these vegetable oils into the environment (terrestrial and aquatic) is also of a minimal impact compared with conventional oilfield oil. They rather seem to support plant growth by providing some nourishment.

 

Keywords: Plant Seed Oils (Esters), Antioxidants, Rheology, Thermal Stability, Cutting Carrying Index


Keywords


Plant Seed Oils (Esters), Antioxidants, Rheology, Thermal Stability, Cutting Carrying Index

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References


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