Development of a Novel Anti-Temperature, Anti-Wear and Ecofriendly Lubricant SDL-1 for Water-Based Drilling Fluid

Abstract

Lubricants used in the Water based mud (WBM) can solve the high torque and drag problems encountered in extended reach drilling operations. The fast development in the deep & ultra-deep drilling technology puts forward higher requirements for the anti-temperature performance of WBM lubricants which beyond the ability of the commercial lubricants. How to fulfill the gradually restrictive environmental regulations and lower the total cost has already been a tough task for the drilling fluid designers. In this paper, a novel lubricant SDL-1 as synergistic application of optimized waste by-product vegetable oil MVO-3 and expandable graphite GIC was described. The physicochemical properties of MVO-3 and GIC were analyzed separately. In order to form a stable synergetic system, the type and amounts of the dispersants and emulsifiers were optimized. Then technological development process of lubricant SDL-1 was introduced in details. And comprehensive evaluations of SDL-1 were conducted according to corresponding technical standards and the synergistic mechanism of it was revealed. Development of the novel lubricant as synergistic application of waste by-product vegetable oil and expandable graphite affords a hopeful solution to solve the high torque and drag problems during drilling process. The substantial reduction in drilling costs with valuable application prospect makes the new developed lubricant more attractive. Furthermore, further benefits could appear in the economic development of relevant industries as the locally waste by-product vegetable oil was used in developing the novel lubricant.