Sodium Carboxymethyle Cellulose Produced from Palm Frond as Drilling Fluids Additive

Abstract

This research discusses the use of Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, which is a product of cellulose produced from palm fronds in the laboratories of the Sudan University of Science and Technology and Central Petroleum Laboratories and the Regional Forensic Laboratories Directorate (research project with number DSR – 1502). The effect of local product when adding it to the water base drilling fluid system was investigated. A set of tests were performed, including x-ray diffraction testing for commercial sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Chinese), laboratory produced sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, as well as three different bentonite samples to review physical behavior, composition, comparison, and emulation. The work moved to laboratory experiments on water-based drilling fluid by adding different concentrations of the commercial product as well as the laboratory product of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in the drilling fluid laboratories of Petroleum Engineering and Technology at the Sudan University of Science and Technology. A comparison was made between the commercial sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and the laboratory sodium carboxymethyl cellulose the results proved the success of the product estimated in comparison to the commercial product (increasing the viscosity of drilling fluid and reducing filtering water). By adding sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in laboratory mud sample and inserting it into the pilot test drilling fluid system used in Block 6 Balela area of PetroEnergy Company for Petroleum Operations, in cooperation with the African Drilling Fluids laboratories, and by comparison with what was used, the addition of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose in the laboratory has proven quite good practical and economical efficacy.