Rheology and lubricity characteristics study at different temperatures using synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles in KCl free bentonite water base mud

Abstract

Drilling mud is a major concerning element due to its high operational and economic impact on the drilling process. Various additives are introduced to enhance the efficiency of drilling fluid, but none of them could perfectly achieve their proposed efficacy in drilling operations. Researchers conceived several nanoparticles (NPs) in drilling fluid to dissolve this issue. In a singular instance, commercial tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles were utilized to analyze the influence of NPs on the rheological and filtration properties of inorganic KCl salt-based drilling fluid. However, the effect of SnO₂ NPs on mud lubricity characteristics is not studied previously. However, due to the hazardous behavior of KCl, its use is very limited. Thus, we consider a KCl-free bentonite water-based mud to avoid any environmental damages from drilling operations. We also use SnO₂ NPs that is synthesized in our laboratory by co-precipitation method. In addition to rheological and filtration properties, we also investigate the effect of NPs on mud's lubricity that was not considered in the previous study. Drilling fluid properties are measured at five different NPs concentrations of 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 & 1.0 wt%, and at six different temperatures of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C, while filtration properties are measured using API low-pressure low temperature (LPLT) condition. The addition of 0.1 wt% SnO₂ NPs increases plastic viscosity, yield point, 10 s gel strength, and 10 min gel strength by 10%, 63%, 20%, and 14%, respectively. The maximum reduction in lubricity coefficient is found to be 14% at NPs concentration of 1.0 wt%. The NPs concentration of 0.5 wt% yielded a reduction in fluid loss and mud cake thickness by 8.1% and 34%, respectively. The study suggests that SnO₂ NPs can be employed as an additive to improve the rheology, lubricity, and filtration properties of KCl-free bentonite water-based drilling mud.