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Using graphite nanoparticles for optimum design of water-based drilling fluid

(Case study: Azadegan oil field)

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 EurAsian Journal of BioSciences
Eurasia J Biosci 11, 16-21 (2017)

Using Graphite Nanoparticles for Optimum Design of

Water-Based Drilling Fluid (Case Study: Azadegan Oil
Field)
Rasoul Rostami 1, Arash Ebrahimabadi 2*, Mohammad Bakhshandeh 3
1
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IRAN
2
Department of Mining, Qaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, IRAN
3
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, IRAN
*Corresponding author: Arash.xer@gmail.com

Abstract
Water-based drilling fluid is more important than gas-based and oil-based drilling fluids for
adaptability with environment and easy working with it. A water-based drilling fluid can have a
significant role in drilling operations with its desirable properties including rheology, fluid loss,
coefficient of friction (CF), pH, and fluid weight. This research studied the effect of nanoparticle
graphite effect on improving the properties of water-based drilling fluid in various experiments by
rotary viscometers, standard filter press, lubricity meter, pH-meter, and mud balance. In addition, fluid
loss control additives were used as a control to compare the obtained results from application of
nanoparticles and understanding the effect of their presence in experiments. Results showed that
graphite nanoparticles can increase yield point (YP) in mud (increased from 10 lb/100ft² to 12
lb/100ft²). Research results showed that graphite nanoparticles can reduce drilling fluid loss in 100psi
and T=75°F about 22% (from 4.5cc to 3.5cc during 30 min). Moreover, research results showed that
graphite nanoparticles can reduce friction coefficient to 58%.

Keywords: drilling fluid, graphite nanoparticles, rheology properties, fluid loss, friction coefficient

Rostami R, Ebrahimabadi A, Bakhshandeh M (2017) Using Graphite Nanoparticles for Optimum

Design of Water-Based Drilling Fluid (Case Study: Azadegan Oil Field). Eurasia J Biosci 11: 16-21.

© 2017 Rostami et al.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

INTRODUCTION improvement of fluid properties and preparing the proper

Drilling fluids are water-based, gas-based, or oil-
based. Water-based fluids are more important than two
others for the limitations in using gas-based and oil-
based fluids, properties of water-based fluids such as
adaptation with environment and easiness in working
with them. This technology has been changes a lot since
the first time of applying drilling fluids in exploration and
development wells by now. Today, manufacturing
companies of drilling materials and additives could
supply better and newer chemical materials to increase
the quality of drilling fluids and obtain more precise
devices for drilling fluids experiments. Drilling fluids must
be considered as the most important factor in oil and gas
extraction, because drilling and finally extracting hydro
carbonic materials would be impossible without drilling
fluids. Drilling fluid has important roles in drilling
operations. Therefore, definite and desirable properties
are important in this fluid. These properties may change
in various drilling phases for different factors and its
quality decreases. Thus, scientific and practical studies
and research are necessary for accurate control of fluid
properties and reduction of underlying factors effect.
Drilling fluids role is transparent for all in quality and
speed of drilling. As any disruption in drilling fluid can
directly influence on drilling process, the protection and
conditions will increase drilling efficiency (Drilling Fluids
Manual 2004, Fink 2012).
Since minimizing the imposed damage to the
formation has been always the priority of drilling industry
experts, achieving new fluids is felt transparently (Swaco
1998).
One case to increase the fluid properties quality and
remove the common drilling problem that is used as
additives is nanoparticles.
Berret et al. (2007) discovered that the mixture of
nanoparticles and copolymers have a significant
sustainability.
Al-Tahini and Amanullah (2009) concluded that
nanoparticles can make a thin and impenetrable layer. It
means nanoparticles can control fluid loss.
Hoelscher et al. (2013) by research in using various
nanoparticles such as graphene and its derivatives in
drilling fluid found out that using these nanoparticles can
improve the rheological properties and generally
increase the efficiency of drilling fluid.
Received: December 2016
Accepted: April 2017
Printed: July 2017

16
EurAsian Journal of BioSciences 11: 16-21 (2017)
Fig. 1. Ratio of side area to volume for the similar volume
of particles (Al-Tahini 2009)
Jain and Mahto (2015) concluded that using
nanocomposites in common manner can improve
rheological properties and filtration rate.
Nada et al. (2016) concluded that nano-bentonite
has a little effect on the improvement of drilling fluid
properties (Al-Zubaidi et al. 2016).
Shakib et al. (2016) observed that clay nanoparticles
with 6% concentration had the best performance on
filtration control, and filtration reduction was about 5%
more than the ordinary additives.
The obtained results from the previous studies have
shown that each materials in nano size can improve one
or two properties of drilling fluid in the presence of
nanoparticles. However, this research studied on all the
properties of drilling fluid in presence of graphite
nanoparticles. Graphite nanoparticles in this research
are used as a new additive in glycol water-based fluid in
Azadegan Ahwaz field. Later, all experiments of drilling
fluid were conducted for basic fluid and five fluid
containing graphite nanoparticles.
Nanotechnology
The term of nanotechnology is the comprehensive
word referring to all the developed technologies in
working in nano size. The mean to say nanoscale
usually is particles with 1-100 nm particles. The first
development in nanotechnology was in 1959 (Berret et
al. 2007). Nanoparticles have relatively high surface
than volume ratio in comparison to micro and macro
materials that gives the possibility to be also used in
small sizes. Therefore, using them is optimum
economically (Al-Tahini 2009). Fig. 1 shows that ratio of
area to volume for a unit of spherical particles on a
macro, micro, and nano size. Studies have shown that
attention to the greatness of the ratio of side area to
volume in nanoparticles and their effective role,
changing the size from micro to nano increase the ratio
of side area to volume for more than one million times
(Al-Tahini 2009).
When drilling operation stops, fluid must have a
gelatin state and prevent sedimentation of drilling
cuttings and stuck of tools into the well, yet it must be in
a way to flow with the minimum stress from its gelatin
Rostami et al.
Fig. 2. Geographical situation of Ahwaz Azadegan field
(Aghebati 2008)
phase and shows its thixotropic property again.
Nanoparticles are used to fulfill these properties (Al-
Tahini 2009).
The situation of the studied field
Azadegan oil field is located in 80km far from Ahwaz
west, in Iran and Iran boundary line. This field was
discovered in 1999 by exploration management of
National Iranian Oil Company. Azadegan field has 740
km2 area as one of the biggest undeveloped field of the
world, and the probability of its sharing to Iraq fields
made it more important (Aghebati 2008).
Fig. 2 shows the geographical situation of Ahwaz
Azadegan field (Aghebati 2008).
Azadegan field with oil place above 30 billion barrels
is one of the biggest oil fields of the word. 7
development/extension wells have been excavated in
this field that 6 wells were excavated in the initial phase
of field development before suggesting comprehensive
development plan to Ipex Japanese Company. 7th Well
excavation operations were finished at the late August
2007 by exploration management of National Iranian Oil
Company (Aghebati 2008).
In this field, 4 layers called Sarvak, Kazhdumi,
Gadvan, and Fahliyan were known as the utilizable
formations and Ilam oil formations and Kazhdumi
sandstone layer is also evaluated having oil by
excavating well no. 7. Production is from Sarvak,
Kazhdumi, Gadvan, and Fahliyan formations in this field
now. Based on various studies by Japanese contractor,
mount of oil in this field is estimated above 30 billion
barrels that whose 6% can be excavated by natural
drilling. 260,000 barrels are producible by full
development of this field per day (Aghebati 2008).
MATERIALS AND METHODS OF PREPARING
FLUIDS
Applied materials
Graphite
Graphite has 3d structure of carbon atoms with SP2
hybridization. Each carbon atom is bonded to 3 other
17
EurAsian Journal of BioSciences 11: 16-21 (2017) Rostami et al.

Table 1. Chemical and physical properties of graphite Table 4. Formulation of the basic fluid
nanoparticles Starch
Pac Sodium Potassium Soda Xanthan Glay
limestone
Caustic
Shape Solid powder lv chloride chloride ash gum col soda
Color Black 10 2 17/5 17/5 1 0/7
1% 116 lb/bbl 1 lb/bbl
pH 6.5-8.5 lb/bbl lb/bbl lb/bbl lb/bbl lb/bbl lb/bbl
Nanoparticles (nm) 30-80
Solubility Insoluble in water
Table 5. Introduction of samples
A Basic fluid
Table 2. Physical and chemical properties of Xanthan gum p1 Basic fluid+ 1 Lb/bbl graphite nanoparticles
Shape Solid powder p2 Basic fluid+ 2 Lb/bbl graphite nanoparticles
color Yellowish white p3 Basic fluid+ 3 Lb/bbl graphite nanoparticles
pH 6-7 p4 Basic fluid+ 4 Lb/bbl graphite nanoparticles
Flash point >100°C p5 Basic fluid+ 5 Lb/bbl graphite nanoparticles
Solubility soluble in water
a good resistance against calcium ion (Committee
Table 3. Physical and chemical properties of poly-anionic 2011).
cellulose Table 3 shows the physical and chemical properties
Shape Solid powder
color Oyster white of this material.
pH 5.6-5.8 Technic of preparing fluids
Flash point >100°C
Solubility soluble in water Tests on water-glycol based fluid were conducted in
Azadegan field. In these tests, devices such as rotary
atoms with 120 angle and bond length of 42.1°A. The viscometers, standard filter press, lubricity meter, pH-
interaction among layers in graphite is the weak Van der meter, and mud scale. First, basic fluid was prepared.
waals forces. Therefore, this interaction is weak so The preparation of this fluid includes various steps that
graphene layers (one single layer of graphite) can slip all must be conducted accurately to reach the logical
over the layer and gives the properties of a good results.
lubricant to his material (Avinash et al. 2010). This In the first step of preparing fluid, the needed fresh
compound is made of many graphene layers and is water weight was 62.4 pcf that was used in mud tanks
accessible and cheap in nature. This carbon allotrope (in laboratory each barrel equal to 350cc). Then, 1%
carbon is both in nature and is synthetized by the volumic ethylene glycol was added and later 17.5 lb per
present thermal decomposition processes (Schafhaeutl barrel Sodium chlorid was added as weight additives
1840). and 17.5 lb per barrel potassium chloride was added to
Table 1 shows the chemical and physical properties system both as weight additives and shale inhibitor, that
of graphite nanoparticles. took the water weight to 67-68 pcf. In the next step, 1 lb
Biopolymer per barrel soda-ash was added to precipitate calcium
The used biopolymer in this research is xanthan and magnesium, then 10 lb per barrel starch and 2 lb per
gum. This material may be used in all types of brines. barrel Poly-anionic cellulose (PAC LV) were gently
Thermal sustainability of this material is 225°F. Xanthan added to system as the reducer of fluid loss. In the next
is the only polymer supplying the thixotropic properties step, 0.7 lb per barrel xanthan gum was added to
for drilling mud. This hetropolysaccharide includes 2 increase viscosity. . It should be noted that xanthan
units of glucose, 2 units of mannose, and 1 unit of should be added gently to prevent air bubble formation
gluconic acid with molar ratios of 2.8 and 2.2. The result in the fluid and polymer clotting. In the next step, 1 lb per
of aerobic fermentation of is xanthomonas bacterium barrel caustic soda was added to increase pH of system
(Garcia-Ochoa et al. 2000). The most popular used to 9.5 and system weight was increased to 74 pcf by
biopolymer in oil industry has been xanthomonas adding limestone (adding 116p to each barrel) in the last
bacterium that is used as viscosity enhancer (Beck et al. step. It is to be noticed that mixer was on in the tank of
1993). making drilling fluid to mix the materials well and prevent
Table 2 shows some physical and chemical their precipitations in all mentioned steps. Then, various
properties of this biopolymer. samples can be made by adding various concentrations
Poly-anionic cellulose by adding nanoparticles. It is to be noticed that
Poly-anionic cellulose with low viscosity (PAC LV) nanoparticles must be added gently as not to make
has been used as a standard controlling additive of loss coagulation in samples. Table 4 shows the formulation
to compare the performance of nanoparticles in of the basic fluid briefly.
controlling fluid loss. Actually, this material can control Prepared samples
fluid loss without making any significant enhance in fluid Table 5 mentioned basic fluid and five other samples
volume. This material shows more resistance against with the consumed graphite nanoparticles.
hardness. Poly-anionic damage temperature starts from
250°F. Cellulose poly-anionic can be used in both salty
and sweet waters. Cellulose poly-anionic polymer shows

18
EurAsian Journal of BioSciences 11: 16-21 (2017) Rostami et al.

Table 6. Characteristics of the basic fluid

Vis(cp) MW(pcf) Temp (C̊) θ600 θ300 θ200 θ100 θ6 θ3 PV(cp) YP(Ibf/100ft2) F.L(cc/30min) PH CF 1
48 74 120 36 23 18 14 4 3 13 10 4.5 9.5 0.1673

Table 7. Effect of graphite nanoparticles on fluid weight and Table 10. PV and YP values for basic fluid and 5 other
PH samples
Samples A p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 Samples A P1 P2 P3 P4 P5
MW(pcf) 74 74 74 74/1 74/1 74/1 PV(cp) 13 13 13 14 15 16
PH 9/5 9/5 9/5 9/5 9/5 9/5 YP((Ibf/100ft2) 10 10 11 11 12 12

Table 8. Results of rotary viscosity-meter in the presence Table 11. Values fluid loss for basic fluid and five samples
of graphite nanoparticles for the basic fluid and 5 other containing graphite nanoparticles
samples Samples A p1 p2 p3 p4 p5
Samples A p1 p2 p3 p4 p5 fluid loss (cc) 4.5 4.5 4. 2 4 3.8 3.5
rate (RPM) Degree of deviation for rotary viscosity-meter
600 36 36 37 39 42 44
300 23 23 24 25 27 28
200 18 18 19 20 23 24
100 14 14 15 17 17 18
6 4 4 4 5 6 6
3 3 3 3 3 4 5

Table 9. Values of shear stress and shear rate for basic

fluid and give other fluids containing graphite nanoparticles
Samples A p1 p2 p3 p4 p5
The calculated shear stress values
rate (RPM) Shear rate (s- 1)
(Ib f/100ft 2)
600 1022 38.44 38.44 39.5 41.64 44.84 46.98 Fig. 4. Comparison between fluid loss amounts with
300 511 24.55 24.55 25.62 26.69 28.83 29.89 presence of graphite nanoparticles in 30 min
200 341 19.22 19.22 20.28 22.35 24.55 25.62
100 170 14.95 14.95 16.01 18.15 18.15 19.22
6 10.22 4.27 4.27 4.27 5.34 6.4 7.47 Shear stress and shear rate values
3 5.11 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 4.27 5.34 Values of shear stress and shear rate are stated for
the basic fluid and 5 other samples (see Table 9).
Fig. 3 shows shear stress based on rate for samples
containing graphite nanoparticles.
Yield point (YP) and plastic viscosity (PV) values
Table 10 shows PV and YP values for basic fluid and
5 other samples.
As it is observed in Table 10, the presence of
graphite nanoparticles increases yields point and plastic
viscosity. Therefore, the difference between reading 300
and 600rpm shows high yield point in fluids containing
Fig. 3. Shear stress vs. rate graphite nanoparticles. Higher yield point assures the
better suspension of drilling cuttings and more effective
Tests results cleansing of well while drilling.
Characteristic of the basic fluid Examining the related results to fluid loss by
Table 6 first shows the characteristics of the basic filter press device
fluid. The prepared mixture entered to the cell of filter
Measurement of weights and pH of fluid press and imposed 100 psi pressure. Then device
containing graphite nanoparticles valves were opened and measured fluid loss vs. time by
Table 7 shows the obtained results from fluid weight turning on the stopwatch. After 30 min, fluid volume was
measurement by mud balance and pH using pH-meter reported in a graduated cylinder. The test to ascertain
for basic fluid and five other samples. data accuracy was repeated. Table 11 and Fig. 4
Results from the measurement of rotary studied the effect of graphite nanoparticles on fluid loss
viscosity meter in the presence of graphite by adding them to the basic fluid.
nanoparticles Measurement of friction coefficient by Lubricity
Table 8 shows the degree of deviation in the Meter device
presence of graphite nanoparticles using rotary In this test, lubricity meter device first read angle Ɵ,
viscosity-meter in 6 speeds of 300, 200, 100, 3, 6, and then the obtained filter cakes from standard filtration test
600 rpm for the basic fluid and 5 other samples. were measured.

1
Friction Coefficient

19
EurAsian Journal of BioSciences 11: 16-21 (2017)
Table 12. Friction coefficient values for the basic fluid and
five samples containing graphite nanoparticles
Samples A p1 p2 p3 p4
angle Ɵ 9.5 9.5 8/5 7 5
FC 0.1673 0.1673 0.1495 0.1228 0.0875
Fig. 5. The comparison between FC with presence of
graphite nanoparticles
Table 12 and Fig. 5 show the effect of graphite
nanoparticles on friction coefficient.
CONCLUSION
According to the conducted tests on the basic fluids
and 5 other sample fluids containing graphite
nanoparticles the following results were obtained:
1) Non-effectiveness of graphite nanoparticles on
fluid weight and pH: the basic fluid weight is
74PCF, but the maximum weight of samples by
adding nanoparticles was 74.1PCF. It means they
had 0.1 PCF that is not considered a significant
increase. PH for the basic fluid and five other
samples was 9.5, and no change was seen after
adding graphite nanoparticles in samples pH.
2) Graphite nanoparticles increases yield point in
mud. As the yield point for the basic fluid is 10
lb/100ft² and sample p5 has the maximum graphite
nanoparticles, yield point became 12 lb/100ft²; it
means YP increased 2 lb/100ft². Since YP has
more effect in cleansing the well, this increase
makes the well cleaner. Thus, it is concluded that
graphite nanoparticles such as nanocomposites
and graphene nanoparticles improve rheological
properties.
3) Based on the obtained results from filter press
device, if the basic fluid is used under the same
temperature and pressure containing graphite
nanoparticles, fluid loss reduces to 3.5cc (about
22% reduction). It means significant decrease was
observed during 30 min in fluid loss. These results
20
Rostami et al.
showed that graphite nanoparticles such as
nanocomposites and clay nanoparticles have the
p5
4
significant role in reduction of fluid loss. Therefore,
0.0699 it is concluded based on the obtained results from
test that using graphite nanoparticles as the
additive materials to the drilling fluid improves its
loss. Consequently, good results are obtained by
this technic in high depths where controlling loss is
very sophisticated. Regarding to this matters,
adding graphite nanoparticles to the drilling fluid
blocks cracks and fractures of the formations for
the small size of nanoparticles and loss will reach
its minimum value by this technic.
4) It was observed by lubricity meter device and the
obtained results through measuring FC that the FC
of the basic fluid was 0.1673, while lubricity of filter
cakes increased for the same fluid by adding
graphite nanoparticles. Consequently, they slip in
smaller than the specific angle which finally reduce
FC to 0.0699 (means 58% reduction). This, it is
concluded that graphite nanoparticles reduce FC,
but other nanoparticles such as clay nanoparticles
and nanocomposites and nano-bentonite that were
used previously didn’t have such capacity. This FC
reduction by graphite nanoparticles in the slant
wells, particularly in the contacting points of drilling
pipe with well walls greatly help and prevent
abrasion increase between well wall and pipe.
5) According to the obtained results, it is concluded
that graphite nanoparticles are effective on more
properties of drilling fluid, but the other
nanoparticles such as bentonite particles,
nanocomposites, and clay nanoparticle influence
only on one or two properties of drilling fluid.
SUGGESTIONS
1) Tests can be conducted on several other fields to
study the effectiveness of graphite nanoparticles
better.
2) Other nanoparticles can be used beside graphite
nanoparticles which have desirable effect on
weight and pH of drilling fluid.
3) The environmental and economic aspects of
graphite nanoparticles can be studied.
4) Extensive tests and research can be conducted on
the other characteristics of these materials based
on affluent advantages of graphite nanoparticles as
additives to the drilling fluid.
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