Evaluation of Corn Husk Powder (CHP) as a Lost Circulation Material in Water-Based Drilling Mud

Lost circulation during oil well drilling is a critical challenge, resulting in significant financial losses and environmental concerns. This study explores the utilization of corn husks as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional chemical additives in drilling fluids. Corn husks were converted into a lost-circulation material (LCM) in the form of corn husk powder (CHP). Various tests were conducted to assess the impact of CHP on the physical and rheological properties, filtration behavior, and lost circulation performance of a water-based mud system. The effect of different CHP concentrations on these properties was evaluated. The results revealed that CHP can act as a rheological modifier, enhancing the apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, gel strength, and yield point of the drilling mud in a nearly proportional manner with increasing CHP loading. This modification can optimize the mud's ability to suspend cuttings and transport them to the surface. CHP also contributed to controlling fluid loss by forming a filter cake on the borehole wall, effectively preventing the loss of drilling mud into the formation. Additionally, CHP exhibited promise in influencing mud cake thickness and controlling lost circulation, making it a reliable LCM for water-based drilling muds. Optimization showed that a 2.10 wt. % CHP loading resulted in a drilling mud that met the API RP 13B-1 standard for rheological and fluid loss properties. This demonstrates the potential of CHP as an eco-friendly and effective additive for improving drilling mud performance, enhancing drilling efficiency, and mitigating environmental concerns. Overall, this study underscores the significance of CHP as a promising and environmentally responsible solution in the oil well drilling industry.