Drilling fluid is the blood of the well and the success of a drilling operation is closely
related with its efficiency. Access to deeper oil and gas reservoirs in hostile HTHP
environments, necessitates improvement of existing drilling fluids [1]. Nanomaterials can
play a vital role in the development of smart drilling fluids [2,3]. The key challenge in
developing such fluids is to maintain stable rheological properties and filter cake
characteristics at harsh environments. The required low concentrations of nanoparticles in
the drilling fluid systems provide a base for more efficient, costless and environmental
friendly drilling practices.
This publication was made possible by the NPRP award [NPRP 6 - 127 - 2 - 050] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.
Zisis Vryzas, Prof. Vassilios C. Kelessidis, TAMUQOmar Mahmoud, Prof. Nasr-El-Din Hisham, TAMU
Petroleum Engineering Department, Texas A&M University at Qatar
• Identify optimal concentration of nanoparticles (iron oxide-I.O & nanosilica).
• Rheological and fluid loss properties analysis at HTHP conditions.
• Microstructure examination of filter cakes with SEM technique.
• Assessment of stability of the suspensions with zeta potential measurements.
• Evaluation of the quality of the produced filtrate with Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry.
Introduction Objectives
Experimental Methods & Results
Sample Preparation
Grace M3600 Viscometer Brookfield YR-1Rheometer
Conclusions• Nanoparticles have the potential to significantly improve fluid loss and
characteristics of the mudcakes.• Nanoparticles addition may not affect cost of drilling fluids due to low
optimal concentrations used (<1%).• Need for development of custom-made nanoparticles, which can lead to
further cost reduction with improved characteristics.• Commercial I.O nanoparticles available around $1000/kg.• Oil & Gas drilling fluids market to reach $12.31 billion by 2018 (Penn
Energy, 2015) providing strong push for the development of smart drillingfluids.
References
Rheology
OFITE HTHP Filter PressAnton Paar MCR 302Rheometer
OFITE LTLP Filter Press
Rheogram for base fluid + different % I.O nanos at 25.5˚C
Yield Stress Vs. Temperature for different % I.O nanos
Filtration Properties LTLP
Sample
%ironoxide(w/w)0% 0.5% 1.5% 2.5%
Filtrationvolumeat30min(ml) 10.9 9.8 9.1 8.7Uncertainty, (ml) ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2Fluidlossreduction % N/A 10.09 16.5 20.1
Volume Fluid Filtrate vs. Time at LTLP
Filtration Properties HTHP
Images of filter cakes formed from base fluid (left) and with addition 0.5 wt.% I.O nanoparticles (right) at 300 psi and 250˚F of filter press
SEM Analysis EDS Analysis
ICP-MS Analysis
ICP element cumulative filtrate fluids: (1) base fluid, at concentration analysis of the and (2) addition of 0.5 wt.% I.O nanoparticlesat 300 psi and 250˚F
Zeta Potential
SEM images at 200 µm magnification (up) and at 30 µm magnification (down) for the surface of filter cakes formed by the base fluid (left) and with addition of I.O nanoparticles (right) at 300 psi and 250˚F
Ø Smoother filter cake surface because of nano additionEDS for the surface of filter cakes formed bybase fluid (up) and by addition 0.5 wt.% I.Onanos at 300 psi and 250˚F
Concentration ofIronoxide,wt.% Bentonite,g IronOxide,g
0.0 45.161 0.0000.5 45.405 3.2431.5 45.901 9.8362.5 46.408 16.574
Zeta Potential Analyzer (ZetaPALS) from Brookhaven Instruments Corporation
Samples after preparation. Left is the 0.1Wt%iron oxide nanoparticle in de-ionized water and right is the 0.1Wt% silica nanopowder in de-ionizedwater.
Zeta Potential of iron oxide suspensions at 25°C and 40°C
Zeta Potential of nanosilica suspensions at25°C and 35°C
[2] Y. Jung, M. Barry, J. Lee, P. Tran, Y. Soong, D. Martello, “Effect of Nanoparticle-Additives on the Rheological Properties of Clay-Based Fluids at High Temperature and High Pressure”. Paper AADE-11-NTCE-2 was presented at the AADE National Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, 12-14 April, 2011
S. Agarwal, L. Walker, D. Prieve, R. Gupta, “Using Nanoparticles and Nanofluids to TailorTransport Properties of Drilling Fluids for HTHP Operations”, AADE 2009-NTCE-18-05,AADE National Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 18-20,2009
[1]
[3]
Sample
%ironoxide(w/w)0% 0.5% 1.5% 2.5%
Filtrationvolumeat30min(ml) 12 6.9 9 11.9Uncertainty, (ml) ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2Fluidlossreduction % N/A 42.5 25 0.8
V.C. Kelessidis, M. Zografou, V. Chatzistamou, 2013. Optimization of drilling fluid rheological and fluid loss properties utilizing PHPA polymer, paper SPE 164351 presented at the Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Exhibition held in Manama, Bahrain, 10–13 March.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
ShearStress(Pa)
ShearRate(1/s)7%Bentonite 7%Bentonite,0.5%ironoxide
7%Bentonite,1.5%ironoxide 7%Bentonite,2.5%ironoxide
0
5
10
15
20
25
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65
YieldStress(Pa)
Temperature(˚C)
7%Bentonite 7%Bentonite+0.5%IronOxide
7%Bentonite+1.5%IronOxide 7%Bentonite+2%IronOxide
“Significant reductionofSiandAl”
STABLE
UNSTABLE
