Revista de Petróleo y Biotecnología Ambiental

Abstracto

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Sawdust and Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in Loss Circulation and Filtration Control

Stephen Gekwu Udeagbara1*, Ndubuisi Uchechukwu Okereke2, Ifeanyi Alex Oguamah2, Anthony Kerunwa2, Joshua Oluwadare Oyebode3, Dipo-Salami Temisan1

Drilling fluid is a suspension of clay in water and some other additives to improve the quality. It is used in oil and gas drilling operations to carry rock cuttings to the surface and also to lubricate and cool the drill bit. It possesses unique characteristics to fulfill the functions during the course of drilling.

Loss circulation is a drilling problem where the drilling fluid is partially or completely lost into a highly permeable formation whereas filtration is the loss of drilling fluid into a permeable formation which has led to many problems in drilling operations. This research work was tailored towards use of agricultural wastes (sawdust and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica)) in lost circulation and filtration control. The wastes were properly processed, used to prepare standard drilling fluids that met API standard and the properties were analyzed and characterized.

The properties investigated in this research work were filtration, density, specific gravity, pH and the rheological properties. For the sawdust (150 microns and 300 microns), the filtration, density, specific gravity, pH, plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity, yield point, 10-s gel strength and 10-mins gel strength value fall within the range of 10.6 ml-21.4 ml, 8.7 ppg-9.0 ppg, 1.04-1.08, 7.00-8.45, 6 cp-11 cp, 12 cp-33 cp, 8 lb-46 lb/100 ft², 9 lb-55 lb/100 ft² and 18 lb-65 lb/100 ft² respectively. While for Luffa cylindrica, the values were 14 ml, 2 ml-36 ml, 8.6 ppg-8.9 ppg, 1.03- 1.06, 7.11-7.92, 5 cp-11 cp, 13 cp-37.5 cp, 7 lb-61 lb/100 ft², 10 lb-62 lb/100 ft² and 20 lb-75 lb/100 ft² respectively.

It was observed from the results that Luffa cylindrica could not give an encouraging result, rather, sawdust of particle size 300 microns, with a concentration of 16 g/350 ml is the best drilling fluid additive to mitigate loss circulation and filtration in drilling operations. Sawdust with the right particle size should be encouraged for loss circulation and filtration control in drilling operations