Study on Rheological Properties of Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide Solution at Elevated Temperature

Rheology is the science offlow and deformation ofmatter primarily liquid, but also solid under
certain conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in
response to an applied force. It applies to substances which have a complex molecular structure
such as mud, sludge and polymer which are also examples ofnon-Newtonian fluids. The flow of
these substances cannot be characterized by asingle value ofviscosity (at afixed temperature or
pressure). Although it is proven that viscosity of fluids normally varies with temperature, other
fectors which lead to different viscosity trend are also studied in rheology. Partially hydrolyzed
polyacrylamide is a polymer which is widely being used by drilling fluid companies in oil and
gas industry as their primary viscosifier in water based mud system. Plus, its ability to
encapsulate the drill cuttings (shale) from the hydration of fluid (water) from the mud or the
formation classifies it as the most important inhibitor in water based mud system. While it is
being widely used, the ability of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide to perform under high
pressure and high temperature condition is still not clearly known. Thus, this study is aimed at
investigating the rheological behavior ofpartially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solution at normal
pressure and elevated temperature as a starting point to the rheological study of partially
hydrolyzed polyacrylamide under high pressure and high temperature condition.