Physico-chemical and rheological characterization of water-based mud in the presence of polymers

Abstract

Under the geological conditions of wells and during the drilling operation, some of the water-based mud compositions are sometimes not effective for the drilling success of the oil wells (case of the oil wells in the south Algeria). For this, the aim of this study is to examine the influence of polymer types [carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polyanionic cellulose (PAC)] on the physico-chemical and rheological properties of water-based drilling muds. A mud samples were prepared with a polymers (PAC or CMC) according to mud formulations currently used in the wells drilling. The properties are controlled at such values that the mud provides optimum performance. For this purpose, the physico-chemical (pH, Pb: mud alkalinity) and rheological (apparent viscosity, yield point, and behavior rheological) were measured out on the studied muds. According to the obtained results, the rheological characteristics of studied muds (yield point and plastic viscosity) were clearly improved in the polymers presence. However, it should be noted that the PAC has given the better results compared to the CMC at a concentration of 8 g/l. By against in the temperature presence (hot rolling), the CMC is a good controller agent of mud filtrate compared to those containing the PAC for the same concentration.