Assessment of Local Material for Drilling Fluid Formulation

Drilling fluid is an essential element in oilwell drilling and completion processes. It
fulfills several fundamental requirements which facilitate safe and satisfactory drilling
activities such as controlling high pressure zones and allowing the removal of cuttings to
the surface. Drilling fluid can be classified into three basic types, specifically water
based mud, oil based mud and gas. The main component in water based mud is clay
(mostly bentonite) which contains montmorillonite as its major component. As bentonite
is usually imported into our country, it increases the overall cost of oilwell drilling and
completions. Thus, the characterization and synthesis of local bentonite clay is essential
in the reduction of cost for upstream oil and gas activities. The objectives of this project
are to characterize clay samples from Grik, Perak in terms of mineral composition and
physical/ chemical properties. The synthesis of clay samples and formulation of drilling
fluid will be looked into subsequently. The scope of study of this project is the
formulation of water based drilling fluid utilizing clay samples from Grik, Perak. The
specification target for purified clay samples is standard Wyoming Bentonite while for
water based drilling fluid is American Petroleum Institute 13(A). The review of previous
researches shows that this topic has been researched into in the past both locally and
internationally. Local bentonite samples from Malaysia (Sabah), Saudi Arabia and India
have been utilized for improvement processes with techniques such as Wet Treatment,
Electrolysis Treatment, Oxalic Acid Treatment and Sedimentation Technique used. For
this project's methodology, the process of characterization and purification occurred
after obtaining the samples. Subsequently, the drilling fluid was formulated, tested and
additives added. The Atterberg's Limit Test indicates that the samples obtained are low
plasticity clay by nature while XRF and XRD results alongside research from Jabatan
Mineral & Geosains Perak indicates that the specimen is a potassium-rich tuff containing
abundant potassic feldspar and is highly probable to be illite. Bentonite augmentation in
the form of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) was conducted but does not meet American
Petroleum Institute 13[A] specifications. As a conclusion from the assessment of Grik
clay, the sample was found to be unsuitable for usage as drilling fluid.