A review of nano technology application on improving drilling fluids properties

Energy industries have been taking advantages from the recent developments of nanotechnology.Several revolutionary changes can be made in drilling industry with the help of nanotechnology. Ithas a capability to produce such nanomaterials that can bring benefit to the industry in variousmanners such as improving the quality of mud cake, decreasing the frictional resistance in the well,minimizing the risk of pipe sticking, establishing borehole stability, preventing reservoir fromformation damage, and augmenting the recovery of oil and gas. In the field of drilling fluids,researchers have tested the application of nanoparticles and have concluded with very promisingresults in terms of reduction in torque and drag, stabilizing the well bore, controlling fluid loss andimproving hole cleaning efficiency. Use of the nanoparticles in reducing friction and improvinglubrication effect has already been recognized in different industries. Drilling industry has movedtowards exploiting reservoir in more economical ways such as drilling an extended reach well. Thesewells are quite challenging when it comes to solving down hole drilling problems such as high torqueand drag. Lubrication efficiency of drilling fluids can play a decisive role in solving torque and dragproblem. Although oil based drilling fluid offers reduced friction factor in the wellbore,environmental concerns and high expenditures can limit its usage. An alternate solution is to makethe most of better lubrication efficiency of the nanoparticles by adding them in drilling fluidparticularly to water base drilling fluids. This addition also has its impact on the rheologicalproperties of drilling fluid which can affect its other function. By keeping this agenda in mind,different nanoparticles were added to drilling fluids at different concentrations and the impact onfriction factor and viscosity was studied through tribometer and rheometer respectively. Graphene,carbon nanotubes, silica, alumina, cobalt and nickel nanoparticles were selected as potentialparticles and their effects were studied in three different base fluids. Temperature influence ontribology and rheology were also made part of the study. The reliability of test results wasestablished by using Modular Compact Rheometer (MCR) for rheological measurements and Pin-on-Disc Tribometer for friction factor measurements. In addition to this, the impact of nanoparticles’addition on density and pH of drilling fluid was also evaluated and the results were used to ponderon the relationship between different properties of drilling fluid. Evaluation of viscosity and frictionfactor led to selection of the best nano drilling fluids which were further used in case study todevelop temperature, viscosity, friction factor and torque and drag profile using softwaretechnology. The comparison of results between conventional drilling fluid and nano drilling fluidsproves that nano drilling fluid can deliver better performance in terms of better bit cooling,enhanced viscous behavior, low friction factors, and reduced torque and drag.

کلیدواژه ها:

nano particles ، drilling fluids properties