Influencing of Cations on the Rheological Properties and Filtration of Iraqi Attapulgite

The rheological properties of drilling mud play an important role in drilling oil wells. The objective of this research is to examine the influence of cation additions on the rheological properties and filtration behavior of attapulgite obtained from Western Desert of Iraq. Mineral and chemical characteristics of attapulgite were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The rheological properties and filtration features of attapulgite were investigated by using two types of cations Na₂CO₃ and KCl at different concentrations: 1, 3, 5, and 7%. The results suggest that the density values exhibit stability irrespective of the addition of KCl and Na₂CO₃. An inverse relationship was seen between the concentration of KCl and Na₂CO₃ additions and the filtration rate, indicating a reduction in the filtration rate as the concentration of these additives increased. The rheological properties of attapulgite did not exhibit enhancements and failed to meet the specified criteria established by the American Petroleum Institute (API). A positive correlation was seen between the thickness of the mud and the amounts of KCl and Na₂CO₃ additives.