IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES FOR DRILLINIG FLUIDS USING GUM ARABIC, SORGHUM AND GUM ARABIC / SORGHUM MIXTURE

Abstract

The process of drilling of Petroleum wells depends largely on the properties of the drilling fluid. Such properties could be improved by the addition imported materials. The intent of this research is to improve the drilling fluid properties using local materials and additives in the formulation of the new drilling fluid and thus reduce the cost of the drilling process. This in turn has a positive effect on the national economy. This research utilizes three types of local additives; Gum additive, Sorghum additive and Gum – Sorghum additive Different percentages of each additive was prepared as a water –based drilling fluid sample and then tested using standard laboratory devices and standard laboratory procedures under specified conditions. The sample was subjected to different temperatures, but under a constant pressure, speed and density. The results were analyzed and the optimum percentages were determined. The Gum additive drilling fluid sample consists of three kinds of Gum: Taleh, Abu Jibaiha, Damazeen and each was tested separately and analyzed. The results showed that percentage 0.76% was the low optimum percentage for all the three kinds of Gum and the high optimum percentage was 21.44% for Taleh and Abu Jibaiha, while Damazeen had a high optimum percentage of 9.4%. The Sorghum additive sample had alow optimum percentage of 0.57% and a high optimum percentage of 2.78%. The Gum – Sorghum additive proved to be optimum for Damazeen –Sorghum and had an optimum percentage of 6.9%. This research concluded after methodical application of the test results by comparison with data from Bamboo wells procedure, which showed an improvement in the drilling fluid properties when using these additives, The optimum samples will be available commercially as: “Falah Gum / Sorghum / Gum-Sorghum Fluids.