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A field application of nanoparticle-based invert emulsion drilling fluids

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Abstract

Application of nanotechnology in drilling fluids for the oil and gas industry has been a focus of several recent studies. A process for the in situ synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) into drilling fluids has been developed previously in our group and showed that calcium-based NPs (CNPs) and iron-based NPs (INPs), respectively, with concentrations of 0.5–2.0 wt% can dramatically improve filtration properties of commercial drilling fluids in a laboratory environment. In this work, a modified process for the emulsion-based synthesis of NPs on a 20 m3 volume and its subsequent full-scale field testing are presented. Comparison between NP carrier fluids prepared under controlled environment in the laboratory and those prepared on a large scale in a mixing facility revealed very little variation in the main characteristics of the drilling fluid; including the size of the solid constituents. Transmission electron microscopy photographs suggest an average CNP particle size in the carrier fluid of 51 ± 11 nm. Results from the full-scale field test showed that total mud losses while drilling with CNP-based invert emulsion were on average 27 % lower than in the case of conventional fluids. This loss prevention falls within the range observed in the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada

    Alexey S. Borisov & Maen Husein

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 423 Engg North, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Geir Hareland

Authors
  1. Alexey S. Borisov
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  2. Maen Husein
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  3. Geir Hareland
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Correspondence to Maen Husein.

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Borisov, A.S., Husein, M. & Hareland, G. A field application of nanoparticle-based invert emulsion drilling fluids. J Nanopart Res 17, 340 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3143-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3143-x

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