Evaluation of the viability of nanoparticles in drilling fluids as additive for fluid loss and wellbore stability

Abstract

Wellbore instability is an issue that, if left untreated, can cause wells to collapse, resulting in human, environmental, equipment, and revenue losses. Drilling fluids have been used to enhance the drilling process by lubricating and cooling the drill bit, eliminating cuttings, and most importantly, by improving the stability of the well by preventing fluid loss. However, there has been an increase in operational demands and challenges that call for drilling fluids to be more effective, economical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. With shales that have infinitesimally small pores, nanoparticle additives in drilling fluids can be crucial in providing the properties that are necessary to prevent fluid loss and provide wellbore stability while meeting the operational demands of the present day. Therefore, this paper examines the use of nanoparticle additives including copper (II) oxide (CuO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) where they are tested under three conditions using the permeable plugging tester (PPT), high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) fluid loss apparatus, and API low-temperature -low-pressure (LTLP) fluid loss apparatus under concentrations of 0.03% and 0.10%. Finally, based on the results, each nanoparticle sample (particle sizes between one and 100 nm) performed well in contributing to the aim of this project. CuO is the most effective inhibitor across all concentrations and under the three different conditions. It contributed to reducing the fluid loss from 37.6 mL to 18.2 and 13.2 mL, which is between 52% and 65% of fluid reduction. For MgO, it contributed to fluid loss reduction to 23.8 mL and 15 mL, which translated to 37%-60% of fluid loss reduction. The use of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles resulted in a fluid loss reduction to 33.6 mL and 17.8 mL, reducing the fluid loss up to 11%, at HTHP and up to 53% at LTLP. Unlike CuO and MgO, Al₂O₃ was less effective under HTHP conditions when compared to LTLP conditions. Al₂O₃ did not suffer as a significant diminishing benefit with increasing concentration in LTLP conditions however which means that at a higher concentration, it may begin to be more effective. Each material used in this study has its own specific and technical characteristics that will help create a progressive amount of property, such as providing stability and withstanding the high-temperature and high-pressure condition downhole.

Keywords

Nanoparticles / Drilling fluids / Additives / Fluid loss / High-temperature and high-pressure

1 Acknowledgements

This paper was made possible by a UREP award UREP 22-010-2-005 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.

References

[1] R.O. Afolabi, E.O. Yusuf, Nanotechnology and global energy demand: challenges and prospects for a paradigm shift in the oil and gas industry, J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol. 9 (2019) 1423-1441, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-018-0538-0.

[2] D. Arab, A. Kantzas, S.L. Bryant,Nanoparticle-enhanced surfactant floods to unlock heavy oil, in:Presented at the SPE Improved Oil Recovery Conference, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2018, https://doi.org/10.2118/190212-MS , 14-18 April. SPE-190212-MS.

[3] B. Bloys, C. Gardner, E. Coludrovich, H.M. Cornette, H. Bergeron, T.G. Corbett, Nanoparticle Densified Completion Fluid. BR112012024391A2, 2011.

[4] A.S. Borisov, M. Husein, G. Hareland, A field application of nanoparticle-based invert emulsion drilling fluids, J. Nanopart. Res. 17 (2015) 340, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3143-x.

[5] T. Huang, J.B. Crews, G. Agrawal, Nanoparticle pseudocrosslinked micellar fluids: optimal solution for fluid-loss control with internal breaking,in:Presented at the SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control, Lafayette, Louisiana, 10e12 February, 2010, https://doi.org/10.2118/128067-MS. SPE-128067-MS.

[6] B.M. Jan, Technology focus: drilling and completion fluids, J. Petrol. Technol. 71 (2017) 53, https://doi.org/10.2118/1119-0053-JPT.

[7] A. Retnanto, M. Yamin,Impact of completion technique on horizontal well productivity, in:Paper SPE 54302 Presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia, 1999, https://doi.org/10.2118/54302-MS , 20-22 April.

[8] A. Retnanto, C. Lynn, E. Orellana, Managing uncertainty of reservoir heterogeneity and optimizing acid placement in thick carbonate reservoirs, in: Paper Presented at the SPE International Production and Operations Conference & Exhibition, Doha, Qatar, 14e16 May, 2012, https://doi.org/10.2118/155079-MS. SPE-155079-MS.

[9] J. Shingala, V. Shah, K. Dudhat, et al., Evolution of nanomaterials in petroleum industries: application and the challenges, J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol. 10 (2020) 3993-4006, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-020-00914-4.

[10] A. Atashnezhad, T. Coryell, G. Hareland, Barite nanoparticles reduce the cement fluid loss, in: Paper Presented at the SPE Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Symposium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, 2017, pp. 27-31, https://doi.org/10.2118/185114-MS. March. SPE-185114-MS.

[11] N.M. Taha, S. Lee, Nano graphene application improving drilling fluids performance, in: Paper Presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Doha, Qatar, 6e9 December, 2015, https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-18539-MS. IPTC-18539-MS.

[12] M.S. Al Ruqeishi, Y. Al Salmi, T. Mohiuddin, Nanoparticles as drilling fluids rheological properties modifiers, Crimson Publisher 1 (5) (2018), https://doi.org/10.31031/PPS.2018.01.000521. ISSN 2637-8035.

[13] T. Jacobs, After years of development, nanoparticle drilling fluid ready, J. Petrol. Technol. 68 (2016) 22-27, https://doi.org/10.2118/1116-0022-JPT.

[14] S. Akhtarmanesh, M.J. Ameri Shahrabi, A. Atashnezhad, Improvement of wellbore stability in shale using nanoparticles, J. Petrol. Sci. Eng. 112 (2013) 290-295, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2013.11.017. ISSN 0920-4105.

[15] J. Abdo, M.D. Haneef, Clay nanoparticles modified drilling fluids for drilling of deep hydrocarbon wells, Appl. Clay Sci. 86 (2013) 76-82, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2013.10.017. ISSN 0169-1317.

[16] M. Amani, A. Retnanto, R. Yrac, S. Shehada, M.H. Ghamary, M.H.M. Khorasani, M.A. Ghazaleh, Effect of salinity on the viscosity of water-based drilling fluids at elevated pressures and temperatures, Int. J. Eng. Appl. Sci. 7 (4) (2015) ISSN2305-ISSN8269.

[17] M. Amanullah, M. Ashraf, Al-Tahini,Nano technology-its significance in smart fluid development and gas field applications, in:Paper Presented at the SPE Saudi Arabia Section Technical Symposium, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, 2009, https://doi.org/10.2118/126102-MS , 9-11 May. SPE-126102-MS.

[18] Md Amanullah M.K. Al-Arfaj Z. Al-Abdullatif, Preliminary test results of nanobased drilling fluids for oil and gas field application, in: Paper SPE-139534-MS Presented at the SPE/IADC Drilling Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2011, https://doi.org/10.2118/139534-MS , 1-3 March.

[19] M. Amanullah, Ziad Al-Abdullatif, Drilling,Drill-In and Completion Fluids Containing Nanoparticles for Use in Oil and Gas Field Applications and Methods, US Patent US20110312857A1, 2010.

[20] V.T. Caldarola, S. Akhtarmanesh, A.E. Cedola, et al., Potential directional drilling benefits of barite nanoparticles in weighted water based drilling fluids, in: Presented at the 50th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Houston, Texas, 2016 https://dx.doi.org/10.2118/, 26-29 June. ARMA-2016-309.

[21] S. Kwak, A. Haider, K.C. Gupta, S. Kim, I. Kang, Micro/nanomultilayered scaffolds of PLGA and collagen by alternately electrospinning for bone tissue engineering, Nanoscale Res. Lett. 11 (2016) 323, https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-016-1532-4.

[22] K.P. Hoelscher, G. De Stefano, M. Riley, S. Young,Application of nanotechnology in drilling fluids, in:Paper Presented at the SPE International Oilfield Nanotechnology Conference and Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 12-14 June, 2012. SPE-157031-MS, https://doi:10.2118/157031-MS.

[23] A. Wilson, Preliminary test results of nano-based fluids reveal benefits for field application, J. Petrol. Technol. 64 (2012) 104-108. https://doi:10.2118/1112-0104-JPT.

[24] J. Friedheim, S. Young, G.D. Stefano, J. Lee, Q. Guo,Nanotechnology for oilfield application-hype or reality, in:Paper Presented at the SPE International Oilfield Nanotechnology Conference and Exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2012, https://doi.org/10.2118/157032-MS , 12-14 June. SPE-157032-MS.

[25] G. Cheraghian, M. Hemmati, M. Masihi, et al., An experimental investigation of the enhanced oil recovery and improved performance of drilling fluids using titanium dioxide and fumed silica nanoparticles, J Nanostruct Chem 3 78 (2013), https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-8865-3-78.

[26] M.N. Alaskar, M.F. Ames, S.T. Connor, C. Liu, Y. Cui, K. Li, R.N. Horne, Nanoparticle and microparticle flow in porous and fractured media-an experimental study, SPE J. 17 (2012) 1160-1171, https://doi.org/10.2118/146752-PA.

[27] A. Zamani, M. Bataee, Z. Hamdi, et al., Application of smart nano-WBM material for filtrate loss recovery in wellbores with tight spots problem: an empirical study, J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol. 9 (2019) 669-674, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-018-0500-1.

[28] M.T. Alsaba, A. Al Fadhli, Marafi, et al., Application of nanoparticles in improving rheological properties of water based drilling fluids,in:Paper Presented at the SPE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Annual Technical Symposium and Exhibition, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 2018, https://doi.org/10.2118/192239-MS , 23-26 April.

[29] M. Alsaba, A. Al Marshad, A. Abbas, et al., Laboratory evaluation to assess the effectiveness of inhibitive nano-water-based drilling fluids for Zubair shale formation, J. Pet. Explor. Prod. Technol. 10 (2020) 419-428, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-0737-3.

[30] A.S. Apaleke, A.A. Al-Majed, M.E. Hossain,Drilling fluid: state of the art and future trend,in:Paper Presented at the North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition, Cairo, Egypt, 2012, https://doi.org/10.2118/149555-MS , 20-22 February. SPE-149555-MS.

[31] H. Liu, X. Jin, B. Ding, Application of nanotechnology in petroleum exploration and development, Petrol. Explor. Dev. 43 (6) (2016) 1107-1115, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1876-3804(16)30129-X. ISSN 1876-3804.