Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids
With the development of the oil industry and the increasingly complex drilling environment, the performance of drilling fluids has to be constantly improved. In order to solve the problem of bentonite dispersion and hydration in a saline medium, a drilling fluid additive with good performance and ac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/8/10/643 |
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| author | Zhenhua Zhao Sinan Chen Fengshan Zhou Zhongjin Wei |
| author_facet | Zhenhua Zhao Sinan Chen Fengshan Zhou Zhongjin Wei |
| author_sort | Zhenhua Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the development of the oil industry and the increasingly complex drilling environment, the performance of drilling fluids has to be constantly improved. In order to solve the problem of bentonite dispersion and hydration in a saline medium, a drilling fluid additive with good performance and acceptable cost was sought. The effects of several water-soluble polymers, such as cellulose polymers, synthetic polymers and natural polymers, on the rheology and gel suspension stability of calcium-based bentonite were compared in this study. Among the examined polymers, the xanthan gum biopolymer (XC) was the least negatively affected in the saline medium used. However, its high price limits its industrial application in oil and gas drilling fluids. In this study, a salt-tolerant polymer, modified vegetable gum (MVG), was prepared by a cross-linking modification of a natural plant gum, which is abundant and cheap. Then, a salt-tolerant polymer mixture called SNV was prepared, composed of the salt-resistant natural polymer MVG and the biopolymer XC. The salt tolerance and slurry ability of SNV and common water-soluble polymers were evaluated and compared. We then selected the most suitable Herschel–Bulkley model to fit the rheological curve of the SNV–bentonite aqueous suspension system. SNV improved the rheological properties of the calcium-based bentonite slurry and the dispersion stability of bentonite. In an SNV concentration of 0.35%, the apparent viscosity (AV) of the base slurry increased from 2 mPa·s to 32 mPa·s, and the low shear reading value at 3 rpm increased from 0 dia to 5 dia. This could greatly improve the viscosity and cutting carrying capacity of the bentonite drilling fluid. The bentonite drilling fluid prepared with SNV could be directly slurried with brine and even seawater; this means that when drilling in ocean, coastal saline water and high-salinity-surface saline water areas, the slurry preparation cost and preparation time can be conveniently reduced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:38:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ac9d94d64f446c89fdbead0bbee344c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:38:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ac9d94d64f446c89fdbead0bbee344c2023-12-03T14:45:00ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612022-10-0181064310.3390/gels8100643Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling FluidsZhenhua Zhao0Sinan Chen1Fengshan Zhou2Zhongjin Wei3Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes (National Laboratory of Mineral Materials), School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes (National Laboratory of Mineral Materials), School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes (National Laboratory of Mineral Materials), School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes (National Laboratory of Mineral Materials), School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, ChinaWith the development of the oil industry and the increasingly complex drilling environment, the performance of drilling fluids has to be constantly improved. In order to solve the problem of bentonite dispersion and hydration in a saline medium, a drilling fluid additive with good performance and acceptable cost was sought. The effects of several water-soluble polymers, such as cellulose polymers, synthetic polymers and natural polymers, on the rheology and gel suspension stability of calcium-based bentonite were compared in this study. Among the examined polymers, the xanthan gum biopolymer (XC) was the least negatively affected in the saline medium used. However, its high price limits its industrial application in oil and gas drilling fluids. In this study, a salt-tolerant polymer, modified vegetable gum (MVG), was prepared by a cross-linking modification of a natural plant gum, which is abundant and cheap. Then, a salt-tolerant polymer mixture called SNV was prepared, composed of the salt-resistant natural polymer MVG and the biopolymer XC. The salt tolerance and slurry ability of SNV and common water-soluble polymers were evaluated and compared. We then selected the most suitable Herschel–Bulkley model to fit the rheological curve of the SNV–bentonite aqueous suspension system. SNV improved the rheological properties of the calcium-based bentonite slurry and the dispersion stability of bentonite. In an SNV concentration of 0.35%, the apparent viscosity (AV) of the base slurry increased from 2 mPa·s to 32 mPa·s, and the low shear reading value at 3 rpm increased from 0 dia to 5 dia. This could greatly improve the viscosity and cutting carrying capacity of the bentonite drilling fluid. The bentonite drilling fluid prepared with SNV could be directly slurried with brine and even seawater; this means that when drilling in ocean, coastal saline water and high-salinity-surface saline water areas, the slurry preparation cost and preparation time can be conveniently reduced.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/8/10/643calcium bentonitecomposite salt-resistant polymer thickening agentcross linked natural vegetable gum (MVG)salt-resistant polymer mixture (SNV)rheology and stability of an aqueous suspensiondrilling fluids |
| spellingShingle | Zhenhua Zhao Sinan Chen Fengshan Zhou Zhongjin Wei Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids Gels calcium bentonite composite salt-resistant polymer thickening agent cross linked natural vegetable gum (MVG) salt-resistant polymer mixture (SNV) rheology and stability of an aqueous suspension drilling fluids |
| title | Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids |
| title_full | Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids |
| title_fullStr | Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids |
| title_short | Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids |
| title_sort | gel stability of calcium bentonite suspension in brine and its application in water based drilling fluids |
| topic | calcium bentonite composite salt-resistant polymer thickening agent cross linked natural vegetable gum (MVG) salt-resistant polymer mixture (SNV) rheology and stability of an aqueous suspension drilling fluids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/8/10/643 |
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