EVALUATION OF THE RHEOLOGICAL AND PH CONTROL PERFORMANCE OF PLANTAIN PEEL-SNAIL SHELL BIOCOMPOSITE ADDITIVE IN WATER BASED DRILLING FLUID

Abstract

This study evaluated the applications of Plantain Peel-Snail Shell (PP-SS) bio-composite powder as pH and rheological parameters control additive in Water-Based Drilling Fluid (WBDF). The plant and animal derived wastes were prepared, ground, sieved, and blended together in ratio 1:1 to obtain bio-composite powder. Twelve sets of WBDFs were formulated based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard of 25 g bentonite to 350 ml of water. Rheological properties, drilling fluid weight, and pH were conducted on the WBDFs to evaluate the effects of different composite powder concentrations (2, 4, and 6 %w/w) at different temperatures of 30, 50, and 70 oC. The results showed PP-SS bio-composite powder increased the drilling fluid weight by 5.56-15.74% and pH value by 5.56–27.78% as well as improved the rheological properties (apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point) of the WBDF as the bio-composite powder concentration increased. The results also revealed that drilling fluid weight did not change with increasing temperature. Apparent and plastic viscosities decreased with increase in temperature while the pH and yield point increased with increase in temperature. Thus, PP-SS bio-composite powder has the potential to be used as a pH and rheological parameters enhancer.