Scholarly record
FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE USE OF SAWDUST COMBINED WITH NANOSILICA AS ADDITIVES IN DRILLING MUDS: A RHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION
Abstract
Drilling muds commonly use organic polymers as viscosifiers or mud filtrate reducers. While these polymers are effective, they are also costly, contributing to higher operational expenses in oil well drilling. They play a crucial role in the success of drilling operations and help enhance various properties, particularly rheological characteristics. Due to environmental concerns, these polymers have become essential in water-based drilling fluids, serving as alternatives to oil-based muds. The present study aims to investigate the impact of replacing two polymers (carboxymethylcellulose CMC and polyamionique carboxyl PAC) with sawdust combined with fixed content Nanosilica (S-NS) on the main rheological properties (shear stress and plastic viscosity) and the overall rheological behavior of water-based drilling muds. The dosages of the combined mixture of polymers and wood waste, at a fixed nanosilica content, are 0, 20, 30, and 40 g/L. The results indicate that the shear stress and plastic viscosity of drilling muds are significantly influenced by the substitution of sawdust-Nanosilica (S-NS) for the polymers, with notable decreases in these parameters observed as the substitution levels increased. In addition, the rheological properties such as threshold stress (Yp) and plastic viscosity (Vp) of the drilling mud studied improved significantly in the presence of sawdust powder combined with Nanosilica (S-NS) at acceptable dosages. The S-NS system at 30 g/L with 0.1%NS, represents an innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional polymers. Despite certain technical challenges (such as dispersion and industrial-scale implementation), it clearly aligns with global trends toward more sustainable, high-performance drilling fluids that are compatible with circular economy principles.
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