Potential of Welan Gum as mud thickener

Abstract

Welan Gum (WLG) is a biopolymer employed in food industry as thickener. This paper evaluates its performance as mud thickener and filtrate loss additive. Tests revealed that WLG, even at low concentrations, effectively boosted mud viscosity and yield point. Tests were also conducted on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a commonly used mud thickener. Compared with CMC, WLG is more effective as mud thickener, but WLG has no effect on mud filtrate loss. WLG mud was also tested at elevated temperature. The viscosity of WLG mud was stable under short-term and long-term heating. Sodium chloride and calcium chloride were added into WLG mud. Test results showed WLG mud was resilient to sodium and calcium contamination. WLG has good potential as mud thickener under high temperature and high salinity conditions.