Improvement of Rheological Properties of Drilling Fluid using Guar Gum-Tamarind Gum and Xanthan Gum-Tamarind Gum Blends
Authors: Ibrahim AO, Chindo AS, Abdul-Azeez N, Momoh OR
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
Local consumption and the excessive cost of importing bentonite into Nigeria have led to the search for local alternatives for economic reasons. Thus, this work aims to improve locally sourced clay using blends of guar gum-tamarind gum and xanthan gum-tamarind gum for the application of drilling fluid (water-based mud). The clay sample was beneficiated to remove quartz and other impurities. The elemental and mineralogical characteristics of the clay sample were investigated. The drilling mud was formulated by mixing 22.5 g of the clay with 350 ml of water with a high-speed mixer. The natural gum (i.e. guar gum and tamarind gum) blend of 2.5 g was added to the mixture. The effect of natural gum blends on the rheological properties of the formulated drilling fluid was investigated using the FANN 35 viscometer. The tamarind gum-guar gum blend at ratio 1:3 in the formulated drilling fluid was found to have enhanced the yield point from 3 lbf/100ft2 to 39.5 lbf/100ft2. The mud enriched with these natural gum blends had high rheological properties comparable with the API specification 13-A for drilling fluid materials.
Affiliations: Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Keywords: Drilling Mud, Rheological Properties, Tamarind Gum, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum
Published date: 2019/12/30
