Analysis of Bio-enhancers for pH and Viscosity Control in Drilling Fluid Systems

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue III, January 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

 Analysis of Bio-enhancers for pH and Viscosity Control in Drilling Fluid Systems

 Abdulmaliq Abdulsalam¹, Michael Okechukwu¹, Kenneth Olukotun1 & Qudus Onagun^2
1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria
²Department of Industrial Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Nigeria 

Abstract- This work was aimed at analyzing the suitability of Banana Peels Ash (BPA) and Plantain Peels Ash (PPA) as bio-enhancers to optimize pH and viscosity in Water-Based drilling Mud (WBM). It was recorded that PPA increased the pH of WBM from 9.00 to 10.00, 10.80, and 11.75 while BPA was 9.98, 10.66, and 11.42 compared to caustic soda of 13.42, 13.60, and 13.76, this corresponds to 2g, 4g, and 8g of the additives respectively. The result for all cases was greater than the API 13B standard requirement of 9.5.Furthermore, evaluating the effect of the bio-enhancers on viscosity of the drilling mud sample, it was verified that BPA increased the WBM viscosity from 7.00cP to 11.50 cP, 19.00cP and 32.50cP at 300RPM Rheometer speed. At 600 RPM, viscosity increased from 9.00cP to 12.50 cP, 20.50 cP and 35.00 cP for 2g, 4g, and 8g of BPA respectively. In a similar way, PPA increased the viscosity of WBM from 7.00cP to 13.00 cP, 16.00cP and 38.5cP for 300RPM, also from 9.00 cP to 14.00 cP, 18.00cP and 40.00 cP at 600RPM corresponding to 2g, 4g, and 8g of PPA respectively. These results show that both BPA and PPA additives are good viscosifiers and pH bio-enhancers for the formulation of water-based drilling mud.

Keywords- Bio-enhancer, pH, Viscosity and Drilling mud.

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