The Effects of Particle Size and Viscosity on Settling Behaviour and Rheological Performance of Isopropyl Laurate Drilling Fluid

Abstract:

Density and viscosity are two major rheological properties that determine the performance of an isopropyl laurate (IPL) ester based drilling fluid. In this study, the effect of barite particle size on the IPL drilling fluid system settling behaviour was investigated using five particle sizes namely-32, 32-45, 45-75, +75μm and the unsieved barite. Stokes’ law of separation theory was employed in the analysis. It was found that smaller barite particle sizes (<75μm) enhances the settling resistance. An ideal barite particle size of-32μm was chosen and used in the subsequent formulations to obtain optimum rheological properties by varying the amount of viscosifier used at 4.0, 10.0 and 20.0g marked as sample (a), (b) and (c). These samples were analysed for their rheology by using the conventional Fann viscometer calibrated using Bingham model. The results showed that sample (b) exhibited the most promising performance based on the plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength rheological analyses. Moreover, IPL drilling fluid sample (b) showed improve particle suspension ability for more than 78 hours when compared to IPL drilling fluid system prepared using unsieved barite particles. The results suggested that palm oil based isopropyl laurate ester has the potential to be used as based fluid in the ester based drilling fluid system.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1113)
• Pages: 161-167
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1113.161
• Online since: July 2015
• Authors: Shafikah Abdullah, Azlinda Azizi, Effah Yahya, Arina Sauki, Nurul Aimi Ghazali, Siti Khatijah Jamaludin, Ahmad Rafizan Mohamad Daud*
• Keywords: Drilling Fluid, Ester, Isopropyl Laurate, Rheology, Settling, Viscosity

References

[1] R. Caenn and G. V. Chillingar, Drilling fluids: State of the art, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering I4 (1996) 22 l-230.

DOI: 10.1016/0920-4105(95)00051-8

[2] Darley, Henry CH, and George Robert Gray. Composition and properties of drilling and completion fluids. Gulf Professional Publishing, (1988).

[3] S. Xie, G. Juang, M. Chen, H. Deng, G. Liu, J. Wang and K. Qiu, An environmental friendly drilling fluid, Petroleum Exploration and Development, Vol 38 (2011), Issue 3, pp.369-378.

[4] S. N. Shah, P.E. Narayan, H. Shankar and C.C. Ogugbue, Future challenges of drilling fluid and their rheological measurement, American Association of Drilling Engineers, (2010).

[5] B. Sajida and M. G. Marthe, Toxicity assessment of individual ingredients of synthetic-based drilling muds (SBMs), Environ Monit Assess, Vol. 183 (2012), pp.5311-5325.

DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2342-x

[6] J. Maxey, Rheological analysis of static and dynamic sag in drilling fluids, Annual Transaction of Nordic Rheology Society, Vol. 5 (2007).

[7] S. Abdullah, A. Azizi and A.R.M. Daud, Rheological properties and thermal stability of ester based drilling fluid, IEEE Proceedings, presented at CHUSER 2014, Penang.

[8] A.R. Ismail and K. S. Foo, Feasibility study of palm oil ester as based fluid in drilling operation, Regional Conference for Young Scientist, (2001).

[9] P. Coussot, F. Bertrand and B. Herzhaft, Rheological behavior of drilling muds, characterization using MRI visualization, Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Rev. IFP, Vol. 59 (2004), No. 1, pp.23-29.

DOI: 10.2516/ogst:2004003

[10] Hall, H. N., Howard Thompson, and Frank Nuss. Ability of drilling mud to lift bit cuttings. Journal of Petroleum Technology 2. 02 (1950): 35-46.

DOI: 10.2118/950035-g

[11] Mahto, Vikas, and V. P. Sharma. "Rheological study of a water based oil well drilling fluid. Journal of Petroleum science and engineering, Vol 45. 1 (2004): 123-128.

DOI: 10.1016/j.petrol.2004.03.008

[12] C. Ryen, HCH Darley and R.G. George, Composition and properties of drilling fluid and completion fluid, (2011).

[13] A. Saasen and G. Loklingholm, The effect of drilling fluid rheological properties on hole cleaning, Presented at IADC/SPE Drilling Conference, Dallas, Texas, 26–28 February (2002).

DOI: 10.2118/74558-ms

[14] M.M. Dardir, S. Ibrahime, M. Soliman, S.D. Desouky and A.A. Hafiz, Preparation and evaluation of some ester amides as synthetic based drilling fluids, Egyption Journal of Petroleum 23 (2014), 35-43.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpe.2014.02.006