The Conversion of Non-Dispersed Polymers into Low-Potassium Anti-Collapse Drilling Fluids

Different drillingfluid systems are designed according to mineral composition,lithology and wellbore stability of different strata.In the present study,the conversion of a non-dispersed polymer drillingfluid into a low potas-sium anti-collapsing drillingfluid is investigated.Since the two drillingfluids belong to completely different types,the key to this conversion is represented by new inhibitors,dispersants and water-loss agents by which a non-dispersed drillingfluid can be turned into a dispersed drillingfluid while ensuring wellbore stability and reason-able rheology(carrying sand—inhibiting cuttings dispersion).In particular,the(QYZ-1)inhibitors and(FSJSS-2)dispersants are used.The former can inhibit the hydration expansion capacity of clay,reduce the dynamic shear force and weaken the viscosity;the latter can improve the sealing effect and reduce thefiltrate loss.The results have shown that after adding a reasonable proportion of these substances(QYZ-1:FSJSS-2)to the non-dispersed polymer drillingfluid,while the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity,structural viscosity andfluidity index under-went almost negligible changes,the dynamic plastic ratio increased,and thefiltration loss decreased significantly,thereby indicating good compatibility.According to the tests(conducted in the Leijia area),the density was 1.293 g/cm3,and after standing for 24 h,the SF(static settlement factor)was 0.51.Moreover,thefiltration loss was reduced to 4.0 mL,the rolling recovery rate reached 96.92%,with excellent plugging and anti-collapse performances.

Chemical modification of barite for improving the performance of weighting materials for water-based drilling fluids

With increasing drilling depth and large dosage of weighting materials,drilling fluids with high solid content are characterized by poor stability,high viscosity,large water loss,and thick mud cake,easier leading to reservoir damage and wellbore instability.In this paper,micronized barite(MB)was modified(mMB)by grafting with hydrophilic polymer onto the surface through the free radical polymerization to displace conventional API barite partly.The suspension stability of water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs)weighted with API barite:mMB=2:1 in 600 g was significantly enhanced compared with that with API barite/WBDFs,exhibiting the static sag factor within 0.54 and the whole stability index of 2.The viscosity and yield point reached the minimum,with a reduction of more than 40%compared with API barite only at the same density.Through multi-stage filling and dense accumulation of weighting materials and clays,filtration loss was decreased,mud cake quality was improved,and simultaneously it had great reservoir protection performance,and the permeability recovery rate reached 87%.In addition,it also effectively improved the lubricity of WBDFs.The sticking coefficient of mud cake was reduced by 53.4%,and the friction coefficient was 0.2603.Therefore,mMB can serve as a versatile additive to control the density,rheology,filtration,and stability of WBDFs weighted with API barite,thus regulating comprehensive performance and achieving reservoir protection capacity.This work opened up a new path for the productive drilling of extremely deep and intricate wells by providing an efficient method for managing the performance of high-density WBDFs.

Synthetic polymers:A review of applications in drilling fluids

With the growth of deep drilling and the complexity of the well profile,the requirements for a more complete and efficient exploitation of productive formations increase,which increases the risk of various complications.Currently,reagents based on modified natural polymers(which are naturally occurring compounds)and synthetic polymers(SPs)which are polymeric compounds created industrially,are widely used to prevent emerging complications in the drilling process.However,compared to modified natural polymers,SPs form a family of high-molecular-weight compounds that are fully synthesized by undergoing chemical polymerization reactions.SPs provide substantial flexibility in their design.Moreover,their size and chemical composition can be adjusted to provide properties for nearly all the functional objectives of drilling fluids.They can be classified based on chemical ingredients,type of reaction,and their responses to heating.However,some of SPs,due to their structural characteristics,have a high cost,a poor temperature and salt resistance in drilling fluids,and degradation begins when the temperature reaches 130℃.These drawbacks prevent SP use in some medium and deep wells.Thus,this review addresses the historical development,the characteristics,manufacturing methods,classification,and the applications of SPs in drilling fluids.The contributions of SPs as additives to drilling fluids to enhance rheology,filtrate generation,carrying of cuttings,fluid lubricity,and clay/shale stability are explained in detail.The mechanisms,impacts,and advances achieved when SPs are added to drilling fluids are also described.The typical challenges encountered by SPs when deployed in drilling fluids and their advantages and drawbacks are also discussed.Economic issues also impact the applications of SPs in drilling fluids.Consequently,the cost of the most relevant SPs,and the monomers used in their synthesis,are assessed.Environmental impacts of SPs when deployed in drilling fluids,and their manufacturing processes are identified,together with advances in SP-treatment methods aimed at reducing those impacts.Recommendations for required future research addressing SP property and performance gaps are provided.

Improving the anti-collapse performance of water-based drilling fluids of Xinjiang Oilfield using hydrophobically modified silica nanoparticles with cationic surfactants

Wellbore instability,especially drilling with water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs)in complex shale for-mations,is a critical challenge for oil and gas development.The purpose of this paper is to study the feasibility of using hydrophobically modified silica nanoparticle(HMN)to enhance the comprehensive performance of WBDFs in the Xinjiang Oilfield,especially the anti-collapse performance.The effect of HMN on the overall performance of WBDFs in the Xinjiang Oilfield,including inhibition,plugging,lu-bricity,rheology,and filtration loss,was studied with a series of experiments.The mechanism of HMN action was studied by analyzing the changes of shale surface structure and chemical groups,wettability,and capillary force.The experimental results showed that HMN could improve the performance of WBDFs in the Xinjiang Oilfeld to inhibit the hydration swelling and dispersion of shale.The plugging and lubrication performance of the WBDFs in the Xinjiang Oilfield were also enhanced with HMN based on the experimental results.HMN had less impact on the rheological and filtration performance of the WBDFs in the Xinjiang Oilfield.In addition,HMN significantly prevented the decrease of shale strength.The potential mechanism of HMN was as follows.The chemical composition and structure of the shale surface were altered due to the adsorption of HMN driven by electrostatic attraction.Changes of the shale surface resulted in significant wettability transition.The capillary force of the shale was converted from a driving force of water into the interior to a resistance.In summary,hydrophobic nanoparticles presented afavorable application potential for WBDFs.

Hydrophobic Small-Molecule Polymers as High-Temperature-Resistant Inhibitors in Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Water-based drilling fluids can cause hydration of the wellbore rocks,thereby leading to instability.This study aimed to synthesize a hydrophobic small-molecule polymer(HLMP)as an inhibitor to suppress mud shale hydration.An infrared spectral method and a thermogravimetric technique were used to characterize the chemical composition of the HLMP and evaluate its heat stability.Experiments were conducted to measure the linear swelling,rolling recovery rate,and bentonite inhibition rate and evaluate accordingly the inhibition performance of the HLMP.Moreover,the HLMP was characterized through measurements of the zeta potential,particle size distribution,contact angles,and interlayer space testing.As confirmed by the results,the HLMP could successfully be synthesized with a favorable heat stability.Furthermore,favorable results were found for the inhibitory processes of the HLMP on swelling and dispersed hydration during mud shale hydration.The positively charged HLMP could be electrically neutralized with clay particles,thereby inhibiting diffusion in the double electron clay layers.The hydrophobic group in the HLMP molecular structure resulted in the formation of a hydrophobic membrane on the rock surface,enhancing the hydrophobicity of the rock.In addition,the small molecules of the HLMP could plug the spaces between the layers of bentonite crystals,thereby reducing the entry of water molecules and inhibiting shale hydration.

Research on the Method of Heat Preservation and Heating for the Drilling System of Polar Offshore Drilling Platform

This study investigates the heat dissipation mechanism of the insulation layer and other plane insulation layers in the polar drilling rig system.Combining the basic theory of heat transfer with the environmental requirements of polar drilling operations and the characteristics of polar drilling processes,we analyze the factors that affect the insulation effect of the drilling rig system.These factors include the thermal conductivity of the insulation material,the thickness of the insulation layer,ambient temperature,and wind speed.We optimize the thermal insulation material of the polar drilling rig system using a steady-state method to measure solid thermal conductivity.By analyzing the distribution of temperature in space after heating,we optimize the distribution and air outlet angle of the heater using Fluent hydrodynamics software.The results demonstrate that under polar conditions,polyisocyanurate with stable thermodynamic properties is selected as the thermal insulation material.The selection of thermal insulation material and thickness significantly affects the thermal insulation effect of the system but has little effect on its heating effect.Moreover,when the air outlet angle of the heater is set to 32.5°,the heating efficiency of the system can be effectively improved.According to heat transfer equations and heat balance theory,we determine that the heating power required for the system to reach 5°C is close to numerical simulation.

A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid

Three high-temperature resistant polymeric additives for water-based drilling fluids are designed and developed:weakly cross-linked zwitterionic polymer fluid loss reducer(WCZ),flexible polymer microsphere nano-plugging agent(FPM)and comb-structure polymeric lubricant(CSP).A high-temperature resistant and high-density polymeric saturated brine-based drilling fluid was developed for deep drilling.The WCZ has a good anti-polyelectrolyte effect and exhibits the API fluid loss less than 8 mL after aging in saturated salt environment at 200°C.The FPM can reduce the fluid loss by improving the quality of the mud cake and has a good plugging effect on nano-scale pores/fractures.The CSP,with a weight average molecular weight of 4804,has multiple polar adsorption sites and exhibits excellent lubricating performance under high temperature and high salt conditions.The developed drilling fluid system with a density of 2.0 g/cm^(3)has good rheological properties.It shows a fluid loss less than 15 mL at 200°C and high pressure,a sedimentation factor(SF)smaller than 0.52 after standing at high temperature for 5 d,and a rolling recovery of hydratable drill cuttings similar to oil-based drilling fluid.Besides,it has good plugging and lubricating performance.

Performance Analysis of a Profile Control Agent for Waste Drilling Fluid Treatment

A method for the treatment of hazardous waste drilling fluids,potentially leading to environmental pollution,is considered.The waste drilling fluid is treated with an inorganic flocculant,an organic flocculant,and a pH regulator.The profile control agent consists of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide,formaldehyde,hexamethylenetetramine,resorcinol,phenol,and the treated waste drilling fluid itself.For a waste drilling fluid concentration of 2500 mg/L,the gelling time of the profile control agent is 25 h,and the gelling strength is 32,000 mPa.s.Compared with the profile control agent prepared by recirculated water under the same conditions,the present profile control agent displays better stability,salt-resistance,and performance.

Optimization of Anti-Collapse Drilling Fluid Systems with High Potassium Content

The ash mudstone in some oil formations is highly water-sensitive.The oil formation is fractured,and the risk of well leakage and collapse is not negligible.This study presents a countermeasure for well collapse prevention,based on a“force-chemistry synergistic balance”approach and the utilization of environmentally friendly and efficient hydration inhibitors.The relevance of this approach is demonstrated considering a drilling fluid system with the high potassium content.The analysis shows that the system can maintain good rheological properties,filtration loss and suspension stability even after aging at 130℃ for 16 h.The primary roll recovery of rock chips is better than 98%.The secondary rolling recovery rate is 89%.The rapid water loss is close to zero.The effects of carrying rock,sand,hydration inhibition and dispersion of drill chips are all noticeable.

Development and applications of solids-free oil-in-water drilling fluids

The increasing application of near balanced drilling technology to low-pressure and depleted fractured reservoirs requires the use of low-density drilling fluids to avoid formation damage. Solidsfree oil-in-water （O/W） emulsion drilling fluid is one type of low-density drilling fluid suitable for depleted fractured reservoirs. In this paper, the solids-free O/W drilling fluid was developed and has been successfully used in the Bozhong 28-1 oil and gas field, by which lost circulation, a severe problem occurred previously when drilling into fractured reservoir beds, was controlled, thereby minimizing formation damage. The O/W emulsion drilling fluid was prepared by adding 20% （by volume） No. 5 mineral oil （with high flash point, as dispersed phase） into seawater （as continuous phase）. Surfactant HTO-1 （as a primary emulsifier） and non-ionic surfactant HTO-2 （as a secondary emulsifier） were added into the drilling fluid system to stabilize the emulsion; and YJD polymer was also added to seawater to improve the viscosity of the continuous phase （seawater）. The drilling fluid was characterized by high flash point, good thermal stability and high stability to crude oil contamination.

Gas-hydrate formation,agglomeration and inhibition in oil-based drilling fluids for deep-water drilling

One of the main challenges in deep-water drilling is gas-hydrate plugs,which make the drilling unsafe.Some oil-based drilling fluids（OBDF） that would be used for deep-water drilling in the South China Sea were tested to investigate the characteristics of gas-hydrate formation,agglomeration and inhibition by an experimental system under the temperature of 4 ？C and pressure of 20 MPa,which would be similar to the case of 2000 m water depth.The results validate the hydrate shell formation model and show that the water cut can greatly influence hydrate formation and agglomeration behaviors in the OBDF.The oleophobic effect enhanced by hydrate shell formation which weakens or destroys the interfacial films effect and the hydrophilic effect are the dominant agglomeration mechanism of hydrate particles.The formation of gas hydrates in OBDF is easier and quicker than in water-based drilling fluids in deep-water conditions of low temperature and high pressure because the former is a W/O dispersive emulsion which means much more gas-water interfaces and nucleation sites than the later.Higher ethylene glycol concentrations can inhibit the formation of gas hydrates and to some extent also act as an anti-agglomerant to inhibit hydrates agglomeration in the OBDF.

High temperature and high pressure rheological properties of high-density water-based drilling fluids for deep wells

To maintain tight control over rheological properties of high-density water-based drilling fluids, it is essential to understand the factors influencing the theology of water-based drilling fluids. This paper examines temperature effects on the rheological properties of two types of high-density water-based drilling fluids （fresh water-based and brine-based） under high temperature and high pressure （HTHP） with a Fann 50SL rheometer. On the basis of the water-based drilling fluid systems formulated in laboratory, this paper mainly describes the influences of different types and concentration of clay, the content of a colloid stabilizer named GHJ-1 and fluid density on the rheological parameters such as viscosity and shear stress. In addition, the effects of aging temperature and aging time of the drilling fluid on these parameters were also examined. Clay content and proportions for different densities of brine-based fluids were recommended to effectively regulate the rheological properties. Four theological models, the Bingham, power law, Casson and H-B models, were employed to fit the rheological parameters. It turns out that the H-B model was the best one to describe the rheological properties of the high-density drilling fluid under HTHP conditions and power law model produced the worst fit. In addition, a new mathematical model that describes the apparent viscosity as a function of temperature and pressure was established and has been applied on site.

Rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids at high temperature and high pressure

The rheological properties of two kinds of oil-based drilling fluids with typically composition were studied at pressures up to 138 MPa and temperatures up to 204 ℃ using the RheoChan 7400 Rheometer.The experimental results show that the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point decrease with the increase of temperature,and increase with the increase of pressure.The effect of pressure on the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point is considerable at ambient temperature.However,this effect gradually reduces with the increase of temperature.The major factor influencing the rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids is temperature instead of pressure in the deep sections of oil wells.On the basis of numerous experiments,the model for predict the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity and yield point of oil-based drilling fluids at high temperature and pressure was established using the method of regressive analysis.It is confirmed that the calculated data are in good agreement with the measured data,and the correlation coefficients are more than 0.98.The model is convenient for use and suitable for the application in drilling operations.

Novel KCl/Silicate Drilling Fluids for Alleviating Problems in Troublesome Shale Formations in Sudan

For several decades, wells drilled in Block 6, Sudan, have experienced serious hole-instability problems related to drilling fluids due to the highly reactive and dispersive shales that exist in the Aradeiba and Abu Gabra formations. These problems included washout hole sections combined with tight holes, as well as serious sloughing. Frequent wiper trips were required and logging of the wells was not usually successful. Previously, several conventional inhibitive water-based drilling fluids such as KCl/polymer, KCl/lime/polymer and KCl/PHPA （partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide） have been used in this area, but with only marginal improvements in hole stability and drilling performance. Recently, a newly formulated KCl/sodium silicate system, which is characterized by the good rheological properties and filtration control, was developed and used for providing the necessary inhibitive character. The first trial well was drilled with this kind of drilling fluid in Block 6, Sudan, and the following benefits were observed： （1） Excellent integrity exhibited by drilled cuttings for shale formations; （2） Stable borehole kept with lower mud weight; （3） Reduced wiper trips; and （4） In-gauge borehole shown from caliper logs. Later on, five more wells were drilled with the KCl/sodium silicate system in this area. It was found that the KCl/sodium silicate system can fully meet the demands of drilling operations in this area. Case studies are presented in this paper in terms of wiper trips, inhibitive character of cuttings, hole conditions and mud weight.

Rheological property of low-damage,ideal packing,film-forming amphoteric/sulfonation polymer drilling fluids

Low-permeability dense reservoirs,including micro-fractured reservoirs,are commonly characterized by high content of clay substances,high original water saturation,high sensitivity to invasive fluids,high capillary pressure,complicated structure and anisotropic,high flow-resistance and micro pore throats etc,.Generally they also have lots of natural micro fractures,probably leading to stress sensibility.Main damaging factors in such reservoirs are water-sensibility and water-blocking caused by invasive fluids during drilling and production operations.Once damaged,formation permeability can rarely recovered.Numerous studies have shown that damaging extent of water-blocking ranges from 70% to 90%.Main damaging mechanisms and influencing factors of water-blocking were systematically analyzed.Also some feasible precaution or treating approaches of water-blocking were put forward.In a laboratory setting,a new multi-functional drilling fluid composed mainly of amphion polymer,sulfonation polymer,high effectively preventive water-blocking surfactants,ideal packing temporary bridging agents(TBA) and film-forming agents,etc.,were developed.New low-damage drilling fluids has many advantages,such as good rheological properties,excellent effectiveness of water-blocking prevention,good temporary plugging effect,low filtration and ultra-low permeability(API filtration≤5 mL,HTHP filtration≤10 mL,mud cake frictional coefficient≤0.14,permeability recovery>81%),can efficiently prevent or minimize damage,preserve natural formation and enhance comprehensive development-investment effect in TUHA Jurassic dense sandstone reservoir formation with low-permeability,the only one developing integrated condense gas field.Some references can be provided to similar reservoir formations.

Performance evaluation of laponite as a mud-making material for drilling fluids

In this study, laponite was tested as a mud-making material for drilling fluids. Laponite is a synthetic smectite clay with a structure and composition closely resembling the natural clay mineral hectorite. Commercially available laponite was characterized by X-ray di ractometry, scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectrometry. Its dispersibility, salt resistance and high-temperature resistance were evaluated. The results showed that laponite possessed superior cation exchange capacity(140.4 mmol/100 g) with interlayer cations of Na^+ and Li^+. Laponite could easily be dispersed in water to yield increased viscosity with no influence from hydration time or temperature. On the other hand, laponite dispersions displayed an excellent heat resistance, with invariant apparent viscosity at high temperatures. For instance, the apparent viscosity of the2 wt% laponite dispersion underwent changes between 22 and 24 mPa s after hot rolling at 180–240 °C for 16 h. Compared to existing mud-making materials, laponite exhibited better mud-making properties. Furthermore, laponite revealed good compatibility with other additives, and the water-based drilling fluids prepared with laponite as mud-making material showed an excellent stability at elevated temperatures and superior performance–cost ratios. Overall, these findings indicated that laponite had an excellent dispersibility at high temperatures and hence would have promising applications as high-temperature mud-making material for preparing water-based drilling fluids designed for ultra-high-temperature environments.

Development and Applications of the Solid Emulsifier Used to Improve the Performance of Oil-in-water Drilling Fluids

The oil-in-water emulsion drilling fluids, prepared by adding 5～12% (by volume) of mineral oil (or diesel) to water-based muds, have been widely used for stuck-pipe prevention in the Shengli Oilfield. In some cases, the emulsion stability of this kind of mud system is not strong enough to meet the requirements of drilling operations. To overcome this drawback, a solid emulsifier, which is characterized by its very small particle size and special wetting behavior (slightly water-wet), has been developed and successfully applied to improve the emulsion stability and other performances of these drilling fluids. Prior to the development of this technology, an extensive study was conducted to deal with the influence of various kinds of finely divided insoluble solid particles on oil/water emulsification. The substances used include bentonite, organophilic clay, kaolinite, barite, two kinds of calcium carbonate with different particle sizes, two kinds of silica with different wetting behaviors, and a newly developed solid emulsifier. Both the emulsion stability experiments and the drop coalescence experiments are performed to evaluate the contribution of these particles to emulsification. The measured final emulsion volume disappears after 12 hours and the half-life for water and oil drops are used as the measures of emulsion stability. The experimental data show that the type, size, concentration and wettability of the particles, and the presence of some surfactants control the type and stability of emulsions for a given oil/water system, and the fine particles of the solids emulsifier provide the most effective stabilization for water-continuous emulsions compared with other kinds of particles. Meanwhile, it can be observed that these particles also stabilize oil-continuous emulsions effectively in some cases since their wetting behavior is close to neutral. The O/W emulsion mud stabilized by the newly developed solid emulsifier has become one of the major mud systems used in directional and horizontal well drilling in the Shengli Oilfield. In addition to the improvement of emulsion stability, this solid emulsifier has the advantages of improving the lubricity of mud cake and is beneficial to the control of rheological properties and filtration.

Deformation Mechanisms and Safe Drilling Fluids Density in Extremely Thick Salt Formations

Hydrocarbons are very often associated with salt structures. The oil and gas industry is often required to drill along and through long salt sections to reach and recover hydrocarbons. The unique physical properties of salt require special techniques to ensure borehole stability and adequate casing design. This paper assumed that the mechanical behavior of salt is regulated by the magnitude of mean stress and octahedral shear stress and under the influence of different stress conditions the deformation of rock salt can be represented by three domains, i.e. compression domain, volume unchanged domain, and dilatancy domain, which are separated by a stress dependent boundary. In the compression domain, the volume of salt decreases until all microcracks are closed, with only elastic deformation and pure creep; in the volume unchanged domain the deformation is considered steady incompressible flow controlled by pure creep; and in the dilatancy domain the volume of salt increases during deformation due to micro-cracking, causing damage and accelerating ＂creep＂ until failure. This paper presents a hypothesis that the borehole is stable only when the magnitude of octahedral shear stress is below the dilatancy boundary. It gives the design method for determining drilling fluids density, and calculates the closure rate ofborehole with the recommended drilling fluids density. If the closure rate of the borehole is less than 0.1%, the drilling fluids density window can be used during drilling through extremely thick salt formations.

Investigation of regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids by ultrasound

Regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids has always been a hot topic.This paper proposed a new method for regulating rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids by ultrasonic field.The experimental results showed that the ultrasound increased the viscosity and yield point of bentonite suspension by reducing the particle size of clay,destroying the network structure between clay particles,increasing the mud yield and the cation exchange capacity of bentonite,and promoting the hydration dispersion of bentonite.The change of rheological property showed a memory effect at room temperature and high temperature.Besides,the ultrasonic energy affected the network structure between clays and polymer chains,thus regulating the rheological properties of the bentonite-polymer system.For two types of drilling fluids investigated,the rheology of the poly-sulfonate drilling fluid was regulated by damaging the grid structure between additives and clays by low-power ultrasound and reducing the clay particle size by high-power ultrasound,while the rheology of the deep-water drilling fluid was mainly regulated by disentangling the spatial grid structure between additives.Additionally,ultrasound showed no effect on the lubricity,inhibition and stability of drilling fluids,which proved the feasibility of ultrasound to regulate rheological properties of water-based drilling fluids.

Application of sustainable basil seed as an eco-friendly multifunctional additive for water-based drilling fluids

Basil seed,containing anionic heteropolysaccharides in its outer pericarp,swells as gelatinous hydrocolloid when soaked in water.In this study,basil seed powder(BSP)was used as a multifunctional additive for water-based drilling fluids.The chemical composition,water absorbency,rheological properties of aqueous suspension of BSP were tested.The effect of BSP on the rheological and filtration of bentonitebased drilling fluid before and after thermal aging was investigated.The inhibition characteristics were evaluated by linear swelling,shale cuttings dispersion and shale immersion test.Lubricity improvement by BSP was measured with extreme pressure lubricity test.The results revealed that incorporation of BSP into bentonite suspension improved rheological and filtration properties effectively after thermal aging of 120℃.BSP exhibited superior inhibitive capacity to xanthan and synergistic effect with KCl.BSP could reduce friction by forming hydration layer.The nanoscale three-dimensional network structures enable BSP to maintain high water retention and absorb strongly on bentonite and metal surface,contributing to enhanced rheology,filtration,inhibition and lubrication properties.The versatile characteristic of BSP,as well as biodegradation makes it a promising additive using in high performance water-based drilling fluid and a potential alternative to conventional synthetic polymers.