Using Nanomaterials to Optimize Mud Rheology at HPHT Wells throughout Experimental Work

Abstract

Significant quantities of hydrocarbon reserves are contained in high pressure high temperature reservoirs (HTHP). Development of these reserves will require drilling fluids with high heat capacities to withstand those conditions. Nano-structured materials exhibit many distinctive properties due to their small grain size and large specific surface. Experimental measurements of heat capacity at constant pressure indicate that the heat capacity values of those materials are frequently higher than those of coarse-grained materials. Therefore, this paper proposes the use of Nanocomposites as an additive in the drilling fluid to optimize its yield point.

In this paper, the authors   proposing a solution to one of the most important challenges of the drilling fluids in HPHT wells; carrying the drill cuttings back to the surface for continuous circulation.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was functionalized and added to polymer (polystyrene-butadiene rubber copolymer matrix). The prepared MWCNTs were modified and characterized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the prepared polymer/MWCNTs nanocomposites were used for HPHT (high pressure high temperature) drilling of oil base mud which also prepared and used in this method. The consequence of polymer and polymer/MWCNTs nanocomposites on the rheological properties of oil base mud which indicates using the polymer and polymer nanocomposites with different percentage from (0.5 to 3 gm.) in all percent the results it is very good, this means that the increase of polymer is reasonable for the increase of apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield point at high temperature. Also, polymer/MWCNTs nanocomposites reveal increase of apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield point at high temperature.