Enhancing thermal stability, rheology and lubricity of water-based drilling fluids using silicon dioxide and graphene nanoparticles
摘要
The drilling fluids are also essential in the successful drilling of oil and gas wells and they are utilized to create lubrication, transportation of cuttings and stability of wellbores. This study explores the improvement of water-based drilling fluids (WBDF) through Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) and Graphene nanoparticle inclusion. Four nano-enhanced drilling fluids (NWDF) were prepared by adding two concentrations of SiO2 (0.3 g and 0.7 g) and Graphene (0.3 g and 0.8 g) per 350 ml of base fluid. The behavior of these fluids was measured at a succession of laboratory tests such as rheology, filtration, pH, and lubricity alongside the X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The outcomes suggest that nanoparticles substantially enhance critical drilling fluid characteristics. 0.7 g SiO2 NWDF showed better filtration control (16.2 ml of fluid loss) when compared with the 0.3 g formulation (18 ml). Fluids made of graphene were remarkably lubricious, with the 0.8 g Graphene NWDF demonstrating a Coefficient of Friction (COF) of 0.17 under lubrication with a lubricant, markedly lower than the base fluid. Rheological tests confirmed that nanoparticle concentration directly affects plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength. The study concludes that SiO₂ and Graphene nanoparticles are highly effective additives for enhancing the performance of water-based drilling fluids, though their efficacy is dependent on particle type, concentration, and the specific property being targeted.