Morphological, Mineralogical and Chemical Characterizations of Azara Barite and its Yield Property as a Weighting Agent in Drilling Fluid
Authors: Salahudeen N, Yahya MN, Mohammed U
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
Local Barite was mined from Azara Development Area in Awe Local Government Council of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The mined mineral was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Electron Dispersion X-ray (EDX) techniques. Water-based drilling mud was prepared using commercial bentonite according to the API 13A Standard. Effect of gradual addition of Azara barite as weighting agent on the yield point of drilling mud was studied. XRD analysis showed that the dominant mineral phase in the material was barite. The SEM morphological analysis showed that Azara barite had lumpsome morphology having orthorhombic crystal shape. The average particle size of the microstructure was estimated as 100 μm. The specific gravity of Azara barite was determined as 3.9. Chemical composition analysis carried out showed that the material contained 83.61 wt% barite. Mud yield point analysis of the material showed that Azara barite was only suitable as weighting agent for drilling mud at composition below 60 wt%. Above 60 wt% the mud was completely unsuitable for drilling fluid applications. The optimum yield point of the formulated drilling mud using Azara barite as weighting agent was 2.0 lb/100 ft2 corresponding to formulation with ≤ 40 wt% weighting agent composition.
Affiliations: Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Bayero University Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Azara Barite, Drilling Mud, XRD, SEM, EDX, Yield Point
Published date: 2020/12/30
