Accepted Manuscript

Colloidal Gas Aphron Drilling Fluid Properties Generated by Natural Surfactants:

Experimental Investigation

Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, Morteza Galedarzadeh, Seyed Reza Shadizadeh

PII: S1875-5100(15)30189-X
DOI: 10.1016/j.jngse.2015.09.056
Reference: JNGSE 1038

To appear in: Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering

Received Date: 26 July 2015

Revised Date: 22 September 2015
Accepted Date: 24 September 2015

Please cite this article as: Ahmadi, M.A., Galedarzadeh, M., Shadizadeh, S.R., Colloidal Gas Aphron
Drilling Fluid Properties Generated by Natural Surfactants: Experimental Investigation, Journal of Natural
Gas Science & Engineering (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2015.09.056.

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Colloidal Gas Aphron Drilling Fluid Properties Generated by

Natural Surfactants: Experimental Investigation

Mohammad Ali Ahmadi1*, Morteza Galedarzadeh1, Seyed Reza Shadizadeh2

1)
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Ahwaz Faculty of Petroleum Engineering,

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Petroleum University of Technology, Ahwaz, Iran

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2)
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Abadan Faculty of Petroleum Engineering,

Petroleum University of Technology, Abadan, Iran

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*Corresponding Author: Department of Petroleum Engineering, Ahwaz Faculty of Petroleum

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Engineering, Petroleum University of Technology, Ahwaz, Iran. TEL: +98-912-6364936.
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Email: ahmadi6776@yahoo.com

Abstract
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Colloidal gas aphron (CGA) fluids are special types of fluids containing micro-bubbles with
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sizes between 10 to 100 microns which are created by mixing an aphronizer surfactant in a
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polymeric solution at high speed. Recently, CGA fluids have been successfully employed as
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drilling fluid in petroleum upstream. CGA based drilling fluid properties like stability and

aphron size distribution highly depends on the characteristics of an aphronizer surfactant. As

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a result, selection of an appropriate surface active agent plays a vital role for generating
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micro-bubbles with the favorable properties. The main objective of the present paper is to

evaluate the potential of new natural surfactants as aphronizer in CGA-based drilling fluids.

In this regard, two new natural surfactants which derived from roots of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

and leaves of Henna plant are employed for preparing aphron-based fluids. Physico-chemical

properties of the aphronized fluids prepared from these surfactants were investigated by

various standard experiments including bubble size measurements, rheological

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characterizations and stability tests. Moreover, the effects of polymer and surfactant

concentrations were studied systematically. Based on the experimental results obtained from

this work, the two aforementioned natural surfactants are appropriate for generating CGA

based drilling fluid while they have no environmental impacts, and have very low cost in

comparison with commercial and industrial surfactants.

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Keywords: Natural Surfactant; Aphron Based Mud; Drilling; Stability; Drilling Fluid

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1. Introduction

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The majorities of known reservoirs in the world has reached their mature state and are

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classified as depleted. The problems related to drilling of these reservoirs make further
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development uneconomical. Uncontrollable fluid loss and the need for injection of lost

circulation materials (LCM) or in worst scenarios the injection of cement in the formation,
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imposes several mechanical and chemical damages to the near wellbore formation.
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Consequently, these damages reduce the productivity and productive interval of the drilled
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well. These problems are intensified in the case of fractured reservoirs.

To minimize such problems the operators have shifted from conventional overbalance
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drilling to under-balance drilling (UBD) method. UBD method improves drilling

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performance by minimizing drilling fluid invasion into the formation during drilling
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operation. However, there are many problems related to UBD including high equipment and

services costs, the unavailability of the technology in some areas, borehole instability, safety

concerns - especially in case of presence of hazardous gases such as H2S, etc. (Brookey et.

al., 2003;White et. al., 2003). Occasional overbalance moments during certain operations in

UBD can cause dramatic formation damages due to lack of filter cake on the borehole wall.

Such problems have limited the application of this technique in many areas.

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The need for a drilling fluid which reduces mud losses and formation damage and

simultaneously guarantees borehole stability and low cost, led to the introduction of aphron

based drilling fluids. The concept of colloidal gas aphron (CGA) fluids was first introduced

by Sebba in 1971 (Sebba, 1971). Later in 1987, he described its properties and predicted its

possible uses (Sebba, 1987). It was Brookey who first introduced the use of these novel fluids

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in drilling industry (Brookey, 1998). After the first successful application, CGA fluids were

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used for drilling depleted reservoirs in many fields around the world (Kinchen et. al., 2001;

Ivan et. al., 2001; Oyatomari et. al., 2002; Montilva et. al., 2002; Gregoire et. al., 2005;

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MacPhail et. al., 2008). For example, aphron fluid was used for drilling both the normal and

subnormal pore-pressure sections in Lake Maracaibo – after the failure of UBD system- and

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successfully reduced fluid loss and improved borehole stability. The application of aphron
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fluid in this field significantly reduced drilling operation time, saved one to two casing string
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per well, and enhancing well productivity and consequently improved oil recovery (Ramirez

et. al., 2002; Montilva et. al., 2002).

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Aphrons are bubbles, usually 10 to 100 microns in diameter and are generally composed of a
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gaseous core and a thin aqueous protective shell. In aqueous colloidal gas aphrons the shell is
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composed of an inner layer and outer surfactant bilayer. The inner layer contains surfactants

at the boundaries which are hydrophilic inward and hydrophobic outward. In order to be
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dispersed in water, the outer bilayer is hydrophilic outward (Sebba, 1987; Bjorndalen and
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Kuru, 2008).

The stability of aphron depends on the properties of viscous shell. The shell has to possess a

minimum thickness (Clunie et. al., 1967) and viscosity (Sebba, 1987; Scriven and

Sternling,1960). Aphron stability is determined by the rate of mass transfer between the

viscous water shell and the bulk phase. This mass transfer is known as the Marangoni effect

which is inversely proportional to the viscosity of protective shell (Sebba, 1987; Scriven and

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Sternling, 1960). Therefore polymers are added to the fluid in order to increase its viscosity

and minimize the Marangoni effect.

Another critical property which aphron fluids should possess, to guarantee their stability in

higher pressures, is low diffusivity of their films. At high pressures the solubility of air in

water increases. For conventional bubbles most of air molecules will diffuse and dissolve in

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water phase and consequently the bubbles disappeared in water. This diffusion is a very rapid

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process for conventional bubbles (Bredwell and Worden) ; however, aphron bubble will

remain stable for extended periods of time even at very high pressures owing to the viscous

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shell surrounding the gas core has a very low diffusivity that entrap the gas molecules (Ivan

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et. al., 2002). CGA fluids can tolerate very high pressures in the order of 4000 psi (Growcock
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et. al., 2007).

Aphron drilling fluid has the ability to reduce fluid loss in fractured and depleted formations.
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Aphrons are compressed when they are pumped down-hole. As a result, energy is stored in
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them and when a depleted formation is encountered, this energy is released and aphron
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expands until it reaches equilibrium with surrounding formation pressure (Ivan et. al., 2002).

On the other hand, the base fluid has a very high Low Shear-Rate Viscosity (LSRV)
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(Growcock et. al., 2004). Therefore when fluid enters the formation (a low-shear-rate region),

the viscosity builds rapidly. The expansion of aphrons and the increase in viscosity, both
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result in creation of a solid-free bridge. The solid-free bridge prevents further invasion of
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drilling fluid into the formation. Experience has shown that this bridge is easily removed by

back flowing the reservoir fluid, and there is no need for work-over operations at the end of

drilling (Brookey et. al., 2003; Bjorndalen et. al., 2011).

One advantage of aphrons over typical foams used in UBD is that they are easily created with

typical mud mixing equipment. Consequently, using aphrons eliminates the costs related to

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compressors and high-pressure equipment employed in foam drilling operation (White et. al.,

2003). Besides, unlike aerated muds, aphron fluids do not corrode drill string and other

drilling equipment, because most of air in the system is trapped in aphron shell (Bjorndalen

and Kuru, 2008).

Recently, Ahmadi and colleagues investigated the use of the natural surfactants in oil

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recovery and wettability alteration goals in sandstone and carbonate reservoirs (Ahmadi and

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Shadizadeh, 2012; 2013a; 2013b; 2013c; 2014; Ahmadi et Al., 2014). In this study the use of

natural surfactants derived from leaves of Henna and roots of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus for

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employing in colloidal gas aphron (CGA) drilling fluids were investigated. The rheology and

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filtration loss properties of the aphronized fluids were studied systematically and the effects
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of surfactant and polymer concentrations were carried out.

The introduced surfactants have very low price relative to the commonly used surfactants in
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petroleum industry. They can be obtained around 1.5−2.0 US$/kg in Middle Eastern
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countries such as Iran and Egypt. They are also biodegradable and therefore more
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environmental friendly relative to common commercial surfactants used in drilling fluids.

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2. Material
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Two different types of natural surfactants which are extracted from roots of Seidlitzia
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Rosmarinus and leaves of Henna trees were used in this study. More details are illustrated

through the following sections.

2.1. Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

Seidlitzia Rosmarinus is a perennial woody shrub well adapted to grow along the banks of

salt marshes and also in saline soils (Breckle, 1986; Hedge et al., 1997). The Seidlitzia genus

belongs to Chenopodiaceae family (Hedge et al., 1997). This species is named Seidlitzia

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Rosmarinus in honor of a botanist named Seidlitz (Sabeti, 1994). Application of natural

surfactant derived from roots of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus was firstly introduced by Deymeh et al.

(2012) for lowering interfacial tension and chemical flooding ends.

2.2. Henna

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Henna (Lawsonia inermis, also known as hina, the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the

Egyptian privet) (Bailey, 1976) is a flowering plant and the sole species of the Lawsonia

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genus (website). The Henna surfactant has been extracted from leaves of the Lawsonia

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inermis plant by implementing spray drier apparatus. The implication of Henna extract in

petroleum up-streams was firstly introduced by Ostovari et al., (2009) for corrosion inhibition

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goals. In addition, Abdolahi and Shadizadeh investigated the application of henna extract on
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acidizing of sandstone reservoirs (Abdolahi and Shadizadeh, 2012; 2013).
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3. Experimental
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The experimental procedures of this work was followed according to the below steps: 1)
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preparation of base fluid, 2) preparation of aphronized fluid, 3) determination of aphron size,

4) characterization of rheological properties, 5) measurement of API filtration loss, and 6)

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observing the stability of generated aphrons.

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3.1. Preparation of Base Fluid

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The base fluid was prepared by addition of different amounts of Xanthan Gum (XG)

biopolymer (1.5gr, 1.75gr, and 2gr) to de-ionized water. 350 cc (one laboratory barrel) of

distilled water was agitated and XG was added slowly to prevent the formation of local

agglomerates. The aforementioned solution was agitated for 20 minutes at a speed of 10000

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rpm. In this process some air bubble was trapped in the fluid and reduced the density to 8.2

lb/gal for 2lb/bbl solution of XG fluid.

3.2. Preparation of Aphronized Fluid

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Aphronized fluid was prepared by adding the natural surfactants to the base fluid at different

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concentrations, and agitating the fluid with a disk type stirrer. The stirrer was placed just

below the surface level of base fluid and the rotation speed was set at 10000rpm for 2

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minutes. The position of disk type rotator was very important in proper generation of aphron

bubbles. The quantity of the aphrons generated significantly reduced by immersing the

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rotator too deep in the solution.
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3.3. Determination of Aphron Size

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The main mechanism of formation damage reduction in CGA fluids is the plugging of
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formation pores by aphrons. Therefore the size of aphrons is very important in the
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performance of CGA fluids, and has to be designed according to the pore size distribution of

formation rock.
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To determine the aphron size distribution, immediately after the preparation of aphronized
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fluid, a small sample of fluid was taken for imaging and size determination. The sample was

placed on an optical microscope which was connected to a digital video camera and the

camera was connected to a computer. For each sample 5-10 images was taken from different

parts of sample in order to obtain the average size and size distribution of aphrons. Computer

software was employed to determine the size of aphrons directly from the screen. Then the

average diameters of aphrons as well as size distribution and d10, d50, and d90 values were

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determined. d10, d50, and d90 are the values in which 10%, 50%, and 90%, respectively, of

aphrons have a diameter less than that value.

3.4. Rheological characterization

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Rheological properties of aphronized fluid including plastic viscosity, yield point, gel

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strength, and apparent viscosity were measured by a Fann 35A Viscometer. Density of the

CGA fluid was determined either by a mud balance or by weighting a fixed volume of fluid.

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3.5. API fluid loss

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A Fann model 12BL filter press was employed for measuring API filtration loss. These
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experiments were conducted at 100 psig pressure and room temperature. The amount of
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filtrate in ml was measured during a 30 minutes period.

3.6. Stability of Aphrons

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The stability of aphrons is an important factor in final performance of CGA fluid. After

generating the CGA fluid, eventually because of buoyancy forces, aphron bubbles will
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separate from the bulk fluid and accumulate on upper level of fluid. The aphron bubbles will

break over time and consequently the volume of the fluid will shrink. To measure the stability
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of CGA fluids which created by the introduced natural surfactants, 100 ml of aphronized

fluid was poured in a test tube and the shrinkage of fluid volume was recorded after 72 hours.

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4. Results and discussion

4.1. Aphron bubble diameter

The bubble diameter and size distribution of aphrons are very important factors which effect

on the pore bridging and blockage mechanism. Immediately after preparation the CGA fluid,

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a small sample of fluid was taken for imaging and size measurements. Figures 1 and 2

demonstrate two sample pictures taken from CGA fluids generated by surfactants extracted

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from Henna and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus, respectively. The viscous shells around the gas cores

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can be easily detected from these pictures.

Insert Figure 1

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Insert Figure 2
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The results of bubble size measurements are illustrated in Figures 3 to 7. The effect of

surfactant and polymer concentrations, surfactant type, and shear rate on size distribution,
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average aphron size and D10, D50 and D90 are depicted in these aforementioned Figures.
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Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the effect of surfactant concentration on aphron bubble size for
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henna and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract, correspondingly.

Insert Figure 3
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Insert Figure 4

By increasing surfactant concentration, the average bubble size reduced for henna extract;
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however, it almost remains constant for Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract. For both surfactants,
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d90 reduced by increasing surfactant concentration which proves the percentage of large

diameter bubbles reduced consequently. However, d10 and d50 remained fairly constant. By

increasing surfactant concentration, the average bubble diameter reduced from 100 μm to 78

μm for Henna extract, and from 85μm to 83µm for Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract. This

approves the results published by Chaphalkar et al. (1993) who reported that an increase in

the amount of surfactant decreased the bubble diameter.

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The effect of polymer concentration on aphron bubble size for henna and Seidlitzia

Rosmarinus extracts are depicted in Figures 5 and 6, correspondingly. As demonstrated in

Figures 5 and 6, the bubble size decreased significantly by increasing the polymer

concentration. This contradicts the results obtained by Bjorndalen and Kuru (2008), who

stated that an increase in polymer concentration has no significant effect on aphron bubble

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diameters.

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Insert Figure 5

Insert Figure 6

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Figure 7 shows the effect of shear rate on aphron bubble size. By increasing shear rate, d10

increased, d50 remained constant, and d90 decreased which shows that more intermediate

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bubbles are generated. These results can be confirmed by comparing the bubble size
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distributions at these two conditions.
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Insert Figure 7

Figures 8 to11 illustrate the bubble size distributions at different surfactant and polymer
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concentrations and different shear rates for Henna extract. As demonstrated in Figures 8 and
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9, by increasing surfactant concentration the number of medium and small diameter bubbles

increased. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 10, by increasing the polymer

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concentration the percentage of small diameter bubbles significantly increased. The effect of
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shear rate on bubble size distribution is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. It indicates that an
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increase in shear rate shifts the histogram to the right and it means that larger diameter

bubbles were generated.

Insert Figure 8

Insert Figure 9

Insert Figure 10

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Insert Figure 11

The effects of surfactant and polymer concentrations on bubble size distribution for Seidlitzia

Rosmarinus extracts are illustrated in Figures 12 to 14. The same trend was observed for this

surfactant as Henna extract. Similarly, by raising the surfactant concentrations the number of

medium and small diameter bubbles increased adequately. On the other hand, by increasing

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polymer concentration in the solution the portion of the small diameter bubbles increased.

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Insert Figure 12

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Insert Figure 13

Insert Figure 14

4.2. Density measurement

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The density of CGA fluid shows the quantity of generated aphrons and indicates the potential
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of a surfactant to generate aphron bubbles. The results of density measurements show that,
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the density of fluid reduced from 8.3 ppg (for the base fluid) to 6 ppg for addition of 4 lb/bbl

Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract. Figure 15 depicts the effect of surfactant concentration on the
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density of CGA fluid for both Henna and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus surfactants. The density of
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CGA fluid reduced from 6.7 ppg to 6.4 ppg by raising concentration of surfactant derived

from Henna from 1 lb/bbl to 4 lb/bbl. Due to the density measurement observations, Seidlitzia
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Rosmarinus surfactant had a better performance in generating aphron bubbles and reduced
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the density from 6.6 ppg to 6 ppg for 1 lb/bbl and 4 lb/bbl of surfactant concentrations,

respectively.

It should be pointed out that the density measurements were taken under atmospheric

pressure condition. At higher pressures (for instance, in down-hole conditions) the aphrons

will compress and the density of the fluid will increase.

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Insert Figure 15

The effect of polymer concentration on density of CGA fluid is illustrated in Figure 16. It

indicates that, as the concentration of XG increases, the density of fluid increases too. By

increasing polymer concentration the viscosity of base fluid increased. Therefore, the volume

of air entrained (the quantity of aphrons) reduced, and consequently the density increased.

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Insert Figure 16

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4.3. Rheology

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The experimental results showing the effect of natural surfactants and polymer concentration
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on rheology of aphronized fluids are illustrated in Tables 1 to 4.

According to Tables 1 and 3, by increasing the surfactant content, the value of plastic
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viscosity, yield point and apparent viscosity gradually increased. However, the magnitude of
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these properties for the Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract at the same conditions is greater than
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corresponding values for surfactant extracted from henna. By comparing these results with

the outcomes reported in Figure 15, it can be concluded that by increasing in the amount of
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aphrons (i.e. decrease in fluid density) the viscosity of CGA fluid increased. However, gel

strengths nearly remained constant at different surfactant concentrations.

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Tables 2 and 4, show the effect of polymer concentration on rheological properties of CGA
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fluids. By increasing polymer concentration, at constant surfactant content, the value of all

rheological properties increased. By comparing these results with Tables 1 and 3, it can be

concluded that the viscosity of CGA fluid is highly depends on both surfactant and polymer

concentrations, but the gel strength is mainly depends on the polymer concentration.

Insert Table 1

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Insert Table 2

Insert Table 3

Insert Table 4

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4.4. API filtration loss

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The viscosity of aphronized fluid as well as the quantity and size of aphrons can effect on the

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amount of filtration loss. The results of API filtration tests are presented in Figures 17 and 18.

The aphronized fluids were able to reduce the API fluid loss and spurt loss in comparison

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with the base fluid. As illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, by increasing the surfactant
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concentration the API fluid loss reduced for Henna extract; however, it didn’t change

significantly for surfactant derived from Seidlitzia Rosmarinus. As depicted in Figure 2, the
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increase in concentration of the surfactant derived from Seidlitzia Rosmarinus had little effect
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on size and size distribution of aphrons. This can be a reason for little change in fluid loss of

two surfactant concentrations.

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Insert Figure 17
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Insert Figure 18
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4.5. Stability of CGA fluid

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This section describes the results obtained from stability tests for CGA fluids. No volume

shrinkage was observed for CGA fluid prepared from both surfactants after 24 hours. Figures

19 and 20 illustrate the status of CGA fluids created by henna and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

extracts after 72 hours, respectively. As depicted in Figure 19, for surfactant derived from

henna, most of aphrons were separated from the bulk phase and accumulated on top of liquid

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phase. On the other hand, Seidlitzia Rosmarinus had a great stability and no shrinkage of

volume, or separation of aphron bubbles from the bulk phase was observed for this surfactant.

Insert Figure 19

Insert Figure 20

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Conclusions

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The ability of two natural surfactants to generate aphronized fluid was investigated

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scientifically. Surfactants extracted from Henna and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus were able to

generate CGA fluids like commonly used commercial surfactants in drilling industry. The

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effect of surfactant and polymer concentrations on physical and rheological properties of the
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aphronized fluids was thoroughly investigated. Generally by increasing surfactant or polymer

concentration the average aphron diameters decreased. An increase in surfactant

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concentration reduces the density of aphronized fluid and this means that more aphron
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bubbles are generated. On the other hand, higher polymer concentrations resulted in higher
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fluid density. The rheological tests revealed that the viscosity of CGA fluid is highly

depended on both surfactant and polymer concentrations; however, the gel strength of CGA
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fluid is mainly depends on the polymer concentration. The aphronized fluids generated by

both natural surfactants were able to reduce filtration loss in comparison with the base fluid.
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Moreover, by increasing surfactant concentration the API fluid loss reduced for henna
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extract; however, it didn’t change significantly for surfactant derived from roots of Seidlitzia

Rosmarinus. Finally, stability tests revealed that CGA fluid prepared by Seidlitzia

Rosmarinus extract has higher stability than the one prepared by henna extract.

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Ivan, C.D., Quintana, J.L. and Blake L.D.: “Aphron-Based Drilling Fluid: Evolving
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Technologies for Lost Circulation Control,” SPE 71377, presented at the SPE Annual

Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, 30 Sep-3 Oct 2001.
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Kinchen, D., Peavy, M. A., Brookey, T. and Rhodes, P.: “Case History: Drilling Techniques
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Used in Successful Redevelopment of Low Pressure H2S Carbonate Formation,” SPE 67743,

presented at SPE/IADC Drilling Conference, Amsterdam, Feb 27-Mar 1, 2001.

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MacPhail, W.F., Cooper, R.C., Brookey, T., Paradis, J.,: “Adoping Aphron Fluid Technology
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for Completion and Workover Application,” SPE 112439, presented at International

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Symposium on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, LA, 13-15 Feb, 2008.

Montilva, J., Ivan, C.D., Friedheim, J. and Bayter, R.: “Aphron Drilling Fluid: Field Lessons

From Successful Application in Drilling Depleted Reservoirs in Lake Maracaibo,” OTC

14278, presented at the 2002 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, May 6-9, 2002.

Ostovari, A., Hoseinieh, S. M., Peikari, M., Shadizadeh, S. R., Hashemi, S. J., Corrosion

inhibition of mild steel in 1 M HCl solution by henna extract: A comparative study of the

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inhibition by henna and its constituents (Lawsone, Gallic acid, α-d-Glucose and Tannic acid),

Journal of Corrosion Science, 2009, 51(9), pp. 1935-1949.

Oyatomari, C., Orellan, S., Alvarez, R., bojani, R., “Application of Drilling Fluid System

Based on Air Microbubble as an Alternative to Underbalance Drilling Technique in Reservoir

B-6-X.10_Tia Juana, Lake Maracaibo” IADC “Global Leadership for the Drilling Industry”

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session, 2002.

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Ramirez, F., Graves, R. and Montilva, J.: “Experience Using Microbubbles-Aphron Drilling

Fluid in Mature Reservoirs of Lake Maracaibo,” SPE 73710, presented at International

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Symposium on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, LA, Feb20-21, 2002.

Sabeti, H., "Forests, trees and shrubs of Iran", Tehran, Iran University of Science and

Technology press, 1994.

U
AN
Scriven, L.E., Sternling, C.V., The Marangoni Effects; Nature, Vol. 187, No. 4733, pp. 186-
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188, July 1960.

Sebba, F.: Foams and Biliquid Foams – Aphrons, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester (1987).
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Shivhare, S. and Kuru, E., “Physico-Chemical Characterization of Non-Aqueous Colloidal

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Gas Aphron Based Drilling Fluids”; SPE133274, presented at the Canadian Unconventional

Resources & International Petroleum Conference held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 19–21
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October 2010.
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White, C.C., Chesters, A.P., Ivan, C.D., Maikranz, S. and Nouris, R.: “Aphron-Based Drilling
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Fluid: Novel Technology for Drilling Depleted Formations,” World Oil, vol. 224, no. 10

(Oct. 2003).

White, C.C., Chesters, A.P., Ivan, C.D., Maikranz, S. and Nouris, R.: “Aphron-Based Drilling

Fluid: Novel Technology for Drilling Depleted Formations,” World Oil, vol. 224, no. 10

(Oct. 2003).

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Tables

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Table 1: The effect of surfactant concentration on rheological properties for henna surfactant
(prepared by using 1.75 lb/bbl XG solution)

surfactant concentration
properties 0 1 2 4
plastic viscosity 10 12 14 14

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yield point 27 33 31 34
apparent viscosity 23.5 28.5 29.5 31

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Gel strength 10sec 12 14 14 15
Gel strength 10min 16 17.5 18 18

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Table 2: The effect of polymer concentration on rheological properties for henna surfactant
(prepared by adding 1 lb/bbl surfactant to the base fluid)

polymer concentration
properties 1.5 1.75 2
plastic viscosity 10.5 12 15
yield point 25.5 33 34

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apparent viscosity 23.25 28.5 32
Gel strength 10sec 10 14 17

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Gel strength 10min 14 17.5 21

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Table 3: The effect of surfactant concentration on rheological properties for Seidlitzia
Rosmarinus extract (prepared by using 1.75 lb/bbl XG solution)

surfactant concentration
properties 0 1 2 4
plastic viscosity 10 12 17 18
yield point 27 31 35 37

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apparent viscosity 23.5 27.5 34.5 36.5
Gel strength 10sec 12 14 14 15

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Gel strength 10min 16 18 18 18

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Table 4: The effect of polymer concentration on rheological properties for Seidlitzia

Rosmarinus extract (prepared by adding 1 lb/bbl surfactant to the base fluid)

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polymer concentration
properties 1.5 1.75 2

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plastic viscosity 11 12 16
yeild point 29 31 34

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apparent viscosity 25.5 27.5 33
Gel strength 10sec 12 14 17
Gel strength 10min 15 18 21

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Figures

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Figure 1: Microscopic picture of aphronized fluid prepared from henna extract
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Figure 2: Microscopic picture of aphronized fluid prepared from Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

extract
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200

180
Aphron diameter (micrometer)
160

140

120

100

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80

60

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40

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0
1 2 4
Amount of surfactant (lb/bbl)

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d10 d50 d90 Avg.
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Figure 3: Effect of henna extract concentration on bubble size (at 1.75 lb/bbl of XG solution)
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200

180

Aphron diameter (micrometer) 160

140

120

100

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80

60

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20

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0
1 2 4
Amount of surfactant (lb/bbl)

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Figure 4: Effect of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract concentrations on bubble size (at 1.75 lb/bbl
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of XG solution)
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250

Aphron diameter (micrometer) 200

150

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100

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50

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1.5 1.75 2
Amount of polymer (lb/bbl)

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Figure 5: Effect of polymer concentration on bubble size (at 1 lb/bbl henna extract

concentration)
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160

140
Aphron diameter (micrometer)
120

100

80

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60

40

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1.5 1.75 2
Amount of polymer (lb/bbl)

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Figure 6: Effect of polymer concentration on bubble size (at 1 lb/bbl Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

extract concentration)
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160

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Aphron diameter (micrometer)
120

100
d10
80
d50

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60 d90
Avg.
40

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10000 11000
Shear Rate (RPM)

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Figure 7: Effect of shear rate on bubble size (prepared by 1 lb/bbl henna extract and 2 lb/bbl
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35

30
Percentage of all bubbles (%)
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10

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30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+
Aphron bubble size (microns)

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Figure 8: Bubble size distribution at 1.75lb/bbl XG and 1 lb/bbl henna extract
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35

30
percentage of all bubbles (%)
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10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+

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Figure 9: Bubble size distribution at 1.75 lb/bbl XG and 4lb/bbl henna extract
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35

30
percentage of all bubbles (%)

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10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+

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Figure 10: Bubble size distribution at 2 lb/bbl XG and 1 lb/bbl henna extract
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Percentage of all bubbles (%) 30

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10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+
Aphron bubble size (microns)
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Figure 11: Bubble size distribution at 2 lb/bbl XG and 1 lb/bbl henna extract (at 11000 rpm)
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percentage of all bubbles (%) 30

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20

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10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+

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Figure 12: Bubble size distribution at 1.75 lb/bbl XG and 1 lb/bbl Seidlitzia Rosmarinus
extract concentration
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percentage of all bubbles (%) 30

25

20

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15

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10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+

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Figure 13: Bubble size distribution at 1.75 lb/bbl XG and 4 lb/bbl Seidlitzia Rosmarinus
extract concentration
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Percentage of all bubbles (%) 30

25

20

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0
10 30 50 70 90 110 130 150 170 190 200+

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Figure 14: Bubble size distribution at 2 lb/bbl XG and 1 lb/bbl Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extract
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concentration
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9

8.5

7.5
weight (ppg)

6.5

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5.5

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4.5

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0 1 4 1 4
hena rozmari

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surfactant concentration (lb/bbl in 2lb/bbl XG solution)
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Figure 15: Effect of surfactant concentration on density of CGA fluid
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7

6.5

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Weight (ppg)

5.5

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1.5 2 1.5 2
hena rozmari

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Polymer concentration (lb/bbl with 1lb/bbl surfactant)
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Figure 16: Effect of XG concentration on density of CGA fluid
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Fluid loss (ml)

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Amount of surfactant (lb/bbl)

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Figure 17: Effect of henna extract concentration on API fluid loss and spurt loss (for 2 lb/bbl
XG base fluid)
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40

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Fluid loss (ml)

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API fluid loss (ml/30 min) Spurt loss

Figure 18: Effect of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus extracted surfactant on API fluid loss and spurt
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loss (for 2 lb/bbl XG base fluid)

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Figure 19: Stability of surfactant extracted from henna

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Figure 20: Stability of surfactant extracted from Seidlitzia Rosmarinus

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Research Highlights

• Two new natural surfactants have been proposed.

• Performance of the natural surfactants as aphronizing fluids have been

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evaluated.

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• Stability of the natural surfactants have been evaluated for 72 hour.

• New gas aphronizer has been introduced

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