Formulation of drilling fluids using local materials
Simeon Okechukwu Eze 1 * , Chinemerem Jerry Chukwu 2
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1 Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, NIGERIA2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The study investigates the formulation of drilling fluids using locally sourced materials (clays) in conjunction with bentonite and non-food-based additives to address the challenges posed by the reliance on imported drilling fluid materials. The objectives were to compare the physio-chemical and rheological properties of drilling fluids made from local materials against conventional drilling fluids, develop formulations with various local additives, and enhance the viscosity of local clays to meet industry standards. A comprehensive methodology was employed, utilizing materials such as groundnut shells, eggshells, barite, and bentonite. The experimental design followed a full factorial approach, resulting in the preparation of thirty-two mud samples with varying proportions of the additives. Key properties such as mud density, pH, and viscosity were measured to evaluate the performance of the formulated drilling fluids against API standards. The results indicated that the incorporation of local additives significantly influenced the properties of the drilling mud, with pH values ranging from 8.94 to 11.22, mud density from 9.38 lb/gal to 10.17 lb/gal, and viscosity from 19.32 cP to 58.56 cP. The study highlights the potential of using local materials to enhance the performance of water-based drilling fluids, demonstrating that groundnut shell and eggshell can effectively improve key mud characteristics. The findings suggest that these locally sourced additives not only meet the required standards for drilling operations but also contribute to sustainable practices within the petroleum industry.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2025, Article No: em0308

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/16352

Publication date: 01 Jul 2025

Online publication date: 06 May 2025

Article Views: 162

Article Downloads: 28

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