Enhancing Drilling Efficiency and Reducing Vibration Induced Failures with Mud Lubricants

Abstract

In the context of hard rock drilling, it is observed that drill pipes utilized in oil well drilling operations may experience significant vibrations and exhibit torsional forces, leading to potential detachment or breakage. The phenomenon known as stick-slip has the potential to inflict damage onto drill strings and subterranean equipment. The management of vibrations is crucial in order to enhance operational efficiency and reduce expenses associated with drilling activities. This study focuses on the experimental investigation of mud drilling evaluation methods. The objective is to mitigate the friction factor by incorporating additives into the typical mud mixture, which serve as lubricating agents. Several laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the impact of graphite alone and a combination of graphite and petrol oil as a mud lubricant on the rheology, filtration losses, and lubricity of drilling fluids when added to water-based mud. The objective was to evaluate and enhance the performance of the mud. A total of six samples were generated for each test, utilizing water-based mud and either additional graphite (with a particle size of 38 μm) or a combination of graphite and gasoil. The findings of this study indicate that the use of graphite, either alone or in combination with petrol oil, in water-based drilling fluids can effectively mitigate stick slide phenomena and improve the rheological characteristics of the fluids. Based on the findings of the experimental study, it was determined that the optimal quantity