Natural rubber latex as a potential additive for water-based drilling fluids

The environmental hazards and"carbon footprint"of oil and gas drilling can be significantly reduced by replacing traditional petroleum-based chemical additives with natural materials derived from plants and animals.This paper explored for the first time the interaction mechanism between natural rubber latex(NRL)and bentonite suspensions(BTs)through a series of characterization experiments,as well as the potential applications in water-based drilling fluids(WBDF).The gel viscoelasticity experiments showed that NRL could decrease the consistency coefficient(k)and flow index(n)of BTs,and enhance the shear thinning performance of BTs as pseudo-plastic fluids.In addition,0.5 w/v%NRL not only increased the critical yield stress and strengthened the structural strength between the bentonite particles,but also facilitated the compatibility of pressure loss and flow efficiency.The evaluation of colloidal stability and WBDF performance indicated that NRL particles could promote the hydration and charge stability on the surface of BTs particles,and optimize the particle size distribution and flow resistance of WBDF under the"intercalation-exfoliation-encapsulation"synergistic interaction.Moreover,NRL can improve the rheological properties of WBDF at high temperatures(<150.C),and form a dense blocking layer by bridging and sealing the pores and cracks of the filter cake,which ultimately reduces the permeability of the cake and the filtration loss of WBDF.

Minimizing the filtration loss of water-based drilling fluid with sustainable basil seed powder

Filtration control is important to ensure safe and high efficient drilling.The aim of the current research is to explore the feasibility of using basil seed powders(BSPs)to reduce filtration loss in water-based drilling fluid.The effect of BSP concentration,thermal aging temperature,inorganic salts(NaCl and CaCl_(2))on the filtration properties of bentonite/basil suspensions was investigated.The filtration control mechanism of BSP was probed via water absorbency test,zeta potential measurement,particle size distribution measurement,and filter cake morphologies observation by scanning electron microscope.The incorporation of BSPs into the bentonite suspension generated acceptable rheology below 1.0 w/v%.The BSPs exhibited effective filtration control after thermal aging at 120C,but less efficiency at 150C.After thermal aging at 120℃,the bentonite suspension containing 1.0 w/v%BSPs could resist NaCl and CaCl_(2) pollution of 5.0 w/v%and 0.3 w/v%respectively.Besides general filtration control behaviors,the exceptional water retaining capability formed by numerous nanoscale 3D networks in the basil seed gum and considerable insoluble small particles in BSPs might further contribute to the filtration control.The excellent filtration properties bring basil seed a suitable and green candidate for the establishment of high-performance drilling fluids.