Environmental considerations of low-temperature drilling fluids

Journal of emerging technologies and innovative research, 2021

This article provides a thorough examination of several types of drilling fluid systems as well as technological improvements. Drilling fluids are crucial elements for successful oil and gas drilling. Waterbased drilling fluids are the most often utilised fluids in drilling applications. Because they are cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and non-hazardous, water-based fluids are the first fluids of choice for drilling applications. Drilling fluids, on the other hand, are ineffectual when working with water-sensitive shale because they produce shale hydration, which compromises wellbore stability. Water-sensitive geological occurrences may need the use of oil or synthetic-based fluids. Water flow from the fluid into the shale occurrence can be prevented by properly forming oil-based drilling fluid. Oil-based drilling fluid, despite its effectiveness, can have a severe influence on the environment when it is released and then spread into the sea. New materials are being employed to create safe and cost-effective drilling technologies for oil and gas wells. Their improved drilling performance reduces drilling time and improves safety and human health. These approaches improved qualities such as filtration control, formation damage reduction, temperature stability, cutting stability, and compatibility with any pollutants introduced into the drilling fluid during drilling operations. This article is intended for recent petroleum post-graduates and entry-level drilling fluid professionals who will find many useful details for a specific drilling difficulty.

SPE Latin America and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, 2012

In its endeavor to provide a sustainable flow of hydrocarbon energy, the Petroleum industry has been recognized by the general public as an industry that has negatively impacted the environment as a result of using either harmful materials or risky practices. This leads the industry to continuously invest in R&D to develop environmentally friendly technologies and products. For any new technology or product, the current R&D trend is toward the development of sustainable practices and expertise. Drilling fluids are necessary for drilling oil and gas wells. Unfortunately drilling fluids have become increasingly more complex in order to satisfy the various operational demands and challenges. The materials used in the process to improve the quality and functions of the drilling fluids, contaminates the subsurface and underground systems, landfills, and surrounding environment. Due to the increasing environmental awareness and pressure from environmental agencies throughout the world it ...

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Kita-ku, kpporo 060 ]Department ofA`techanical Ehgineering, ?VLrguoha Uitivensity of 1lechnotqgy, Kbmitomioko-cho, IVtrgaeko 940-21 thtionat institute ofPolarResearch, 9-1O, Ktzga i-chome, ftabashi-ku, Tblya 173 Absttact: At Dome F, one ofthe summits ofthe East Antarctic Ice Sheet, a yery deep ice-conng operation is to be carried out by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition from 1995. Since it will take two years to complete the coring up to about 3ooO rn depth, the borehole should be fi11ed with proper drilling fluid to prevent borehole closure during the operation. This paper is a report on our investigations for searching for the proper dn1]jng fluid which can be used in the very cold environment at Dome F, Although the investigations are still in progress, three kinds of fluid were chosen as drMing fluid candidates. They are: 1) n-butyl acetate, 2) "IP-solvent" with densifier and 3) Silicone Oil. Their properties were investigated and compared in terms of density and viscosity, which are essential Tequirements for a drilling fluid. As a result, it was shown that n-butyl acetate and IP-solvent with densifier can be used as the dri11ing fluid. However. the use of n-butyl acetate is impossible without suthcient ventilation at the coring site or other action to dispose of its vapor. When the use of IP-solvent with densifier is considered, the choice ofproper densifier is also a problern.

Annals of Glaciology, 2014

More than 170 years ago, Louis Agassiz, one of the creators of glacial theory, made his first attempt to drill into the bed of Unteraargletscher, Swiss Alps. Since that time, various systems for thermal and mechanical drilling have been designed especially for boring into ice, and some conventional drill rigs been adopted for ice coring. Although contemporary ice-drilling knowledge and techniques are now familiar, there remain many problems to be solved by advanced modern technology. Specific challenges related to improving old drilling methods and developing new emerging technologies include: (1) identification of depth limitation of ‘dry’ drilling; (2) improvement of casing; (3) searching for the new environmentally friendly low-temperature drilling fluids; (4) reliable elimination of sticking drills; (5) improvement of core quality in the brittle zone; (6) additional core sampling from borehole walls after the core has been drilled; (7) obtaining oriented core; (8) designing auto...

Journal of Engineering and Technology, 2017

The temperate world such American and Canada are extensively increasing environmental legislations against oil-based muds and increasing exploratory activities in the offshore, it imperative to develop an oil based drilling muds that have resistance to the weather and relatively stable rheological properties at low temperature of -5oC to 20oC. This study investigates the use of non-edible algae oil to formulate ethyl biodiesel as based fluid for drilling mud that can perform the same function as convectional oil based drilling fluid and as well comply with the HSE (Health, safety and environment) standard in the temperate region and offshore environment. Experimental tests were performed at temperature condition of -5oC to 20oC on the synthetic ethyl biodiesel oil based mud samples so as to evaluate the rheological properties of the drilling mud formulations. The synthetic oil based was obtained from offshore drilling company and was used as control experiment. The following tests w...

Int J Petrochem Res, 2017

The ever-increasing targets of drilling depth and reach, coupled with locational disadvantages have driven the oilfield drilling operations into new technology frontiers. Drilling fluids being an essential component of any successful drilling operation, adequate understanding of the impact of drilling fluid characteristics can eliminate a range of difficulties encountered during drilling operations and reduce drilling cost significantly. This article presents a comprehensive review of various types of drilling fluid systems and technology advancements and also the significant challenges faced by a drilling fluid engineer, starting with the basics and ending with extreme reservoir Conditions, with special emphasis on non-damaging drilling fluids. This paper is specially written for fresh petroleum engineering graduates and entry level drilling fluid engineers and drilling engineers as well as for drilling fluid research groups who would find many important information for a given drilling and reservoir challenge.

2015

Ground source heat pumps are commonly used in Sweden. The dominating method of exchanging heat with the ground is by circulation of a secondary fluid through borehole heat exchangers inserted into energy wells. Due to the environmental reasons and relatively good thermophysical properties, aqueous solutions of ethanol are recommended and are commonly used for the borehole heat exchanger application in Sweden and other Nordic countries. The primary idea of using these fluids is to decrease the freezing point of the fluid since many borehole loops in Northern Europe operate near or below the freezing point of water. The available ethanol based commercial products consist of ethyl alcohol with up to 10% of denaturing agents without any corrosion inhibitors. The main denaturing agents used to prevent from drinking are mixtures of isopropyl alcohol, n-butanol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone. These denaturing agents in commercial secondary fluids can influence the fluid's thermophysical properties and thereby affect the pressure drop and heat transfer in the borehole heat exchanger. These not well defined effects of additives can cause uncertainties in the ground source heat pump design and operation. The thermophysical properties of a few aqueous ethanol solutions are experimentally studied in this paper including a field sample, a pure mixture of ethanol and ethanol including additives are compared with reference data. The density of 20 wt-% solution of ethanol including additives and the field sample were higher than pure 20 wt-% ethanol sample. The additives increased the specific heat capacity by 2.3% at-10 ºC and 1% at 0 ºC. A decrement by 10.5% in the dynamic viscosity was observed. Presence of additives increased the thermal conductivity values by around 1.5% at-8 ºC and 4.3% at +40 ºC. Some implications in terms of pressure drop and fluid to pipe thermal resistance are observed when these properties are applied in borehole heat exchangers, as the occurrence for laminar or turbulent varies at given temperature levels. An alternative would be to replace the denaturing agents with corrosion inhibitors to decrease the concentration of additives, improve corrosion protection of the systems and still fulfill the market recommendations.

Drilling fluids are mixtures of natural and synthetic chemical compounds used in the drilling of oil and gas. They provide protection to the drill bit as well as helps in carrying out the drilling operations smoothly. Drilling fluids are mainly classified as water based muds (WBM) and oil based muds (OBM).Each type needs special additives and their selection depends on various factors. A drilling mud can be disposed of in an environmental friendly manner by mixing the mud with a cross linkable polymer and a crosslinking agent to form a composition that solidifies at a predetermined time

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