Performance Comparison and Optimization of PFAD based Drilling Fluid

At present, there exist a shift towards the development of sustainable drilling fluids. Researches in this field have been conducted using non-toxic, edible vegetable grade oils, and plant seed oil as the continuous fluid phase in the development of non-toxic, sustainable and biodegradable oil-based mud systems. This paper addresses the suitability and the usage of palm fatty acid distillate as the continuous phase for the development of bio-based drilling fluid with subsequent comparison of formulation performances and further optimizations. The project is done with the purpose of preparation and characterization of biodiesel to be suitable as continuous phase for drilling fluid based on physical properties comparison with conventional oil. Apart from that, a bio-based drilling fluid formulation is required which is compatible with the required specification, tested with various drilling fluid tests and evaluated based on its plastic viscosity, yield point, low end rheology, gel strength, ES reading, HTHP fluid loss and free water . With reference with the limited time span of the project, the project scope for the first phase is limited to the testing of physical properties for suitability of biodiesel as base fluid and the second phase is a mud formulation of 12.0 ppg density and testing of mud samples at 275F. The project was conducted by mixing 11 different mud formulations with varying lime and primary emulsifier concentrations from to obtain the required data by conducting rheology, Emulsion stability, HTHP filter press and retort test. The most suitable 3 was analyzed and its performance were compared and assessed based on the specification of the data criteria such as plastic viscosity, yield point, low end rheology, ES reading. gel strength, HTHP fluid loss and free water. Based on the findings, mud formulation 1 - PFAD sample with 0 conc. lime and 0 ppb. CONFI-MUL P (primary emulsifier), 2 - PFAD sample with 0 conc. lime and 1 ppb CONFI-MUL P (primary emulsifier) and 3 - PFAD sample with 1 conc. lime and 1 ppb CONFI-MUL P(primary emulsifier must be further optimized to satisfy all the data criteria requirements in terms of reducing the viscosifier concentration or increasing the fluid loss agent concentration and even both. Although mud sample 3 satisfies most of the data analysis, it still cannot be deduced as the best formulation until further optimization are carried out.