Evaluation of Malokheya (Corchorus olitorius) Performance as a Drilling Fluid Additive

Abstract

One of the main responsibilities of the drilling fluids is hole cleaning. Drilled cuttings are removed from the wellbore by using a combination of different rheological properties; in the first section of the well normally BENTONITE is used as a viscosifier to enhance the rheological properties. In this project,MOLOKHEYA was used as a local material to alternate the bentonite to reduce the drilling fluid costs and enhance the rheological properties. Rheological tests were done for a drilling fluid with MOLOKHEYA powder to know it is effect on the drilling fluid rheological properties. The summarization of these tests showed MOLOKHEYA effect on the rheological properties as the following: Changing MOLO (MOLOKHEYA leaves)and MOST (MOLOKHEYA stems) powder concentrations from 1.5% to 3% increased the PV 70% and 66.7% respectively, while the AV increased 80% and 87.5% respectively. MOLO YP and the Gel strength increased 600 and 75% respectively, while the YP and the Gel strength of MOST increased 150% and 100% respectively. MOLO and MOST rheological propertieswere affected negatively by the temperature. When the temperature was increased from 30-100C⁰,MOLO PV, AV and YP decreased 88.9%, 63.16% and 88.9% respectively, while MOST PV, AV and YP decreased 71.48%, 63.16% and 40% respectively. When MOLOKHEYE was used as a viscosifier instead of bentonite, less amounts of MOLO and MOST were used to give properties as well as bentonite and the cost of the sample was reduced by 36.41%.