Enhancement of the rheological properties of bentonite mud using natural polymers

Abstract

This research work focuses on finding more effective polymers that can improve the rheological properties of bentonite mud. Various mud samples were formulated with natural polymers obtained from corn starch, cassava starch, purple potato starch, yellow potato starch and saw dust consisting of different masses which were not treated or purified by any chemical method before and after preparation along with the control mud. Rheology tests were carried out to determine the plastic viscosity, apparent viscosity, yield point, gel strength among others. API standards were followed throughout the experimental study and the result from this investigation showed that increasing the concentration of polymers enhances the mud rheological properties studied at ambient condition, wherein thermal stability was exhibited up till 100°C. Thus, environmental friendly alternatives have been discovered for drilling fluid additives which are cheap, organic, bio-degradable, non-toxic and easily available