Evaluation of Fluid Loss Control Performance of Local Biopolymer

Ndoma-Egba, Lilian Enyang; Kerunwa, Anthony; Nwachukwu, Angela Ngozi; Nduwuba, George; Okalla, Christain Emelu; Dike, Chukwuebuka Francis; Obah, Boniface

doi:10.22059/jchpe.2025.377675.1524

Evaluation of Fluid Loss Control Performance of Local Biopolymer

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Lilian Enyang Ndoma-Egba

Anthony Kerunwa

Angela Ngozi Nwachukwu

George Nduwuba

Christain Emelu Okalla

Chukwuebuka Francis Dike

Boniface Obah

Petroleum Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

10.22059/jchpe.2025.377675.1524

Abstract

Drilling mud is recognized as the life-wire of drilling operations in the oil and gas industry, and is essential for the exploration and production of subsurface hydrocarbon resources. Drilling mud is plagued by fluid loss, which reduces the volume of the continuous phase while increasing the thickness of the mud cake. This problem has led to the introduction of additives that enhance the mud filter cake features and reduce the filtration rate. Several conventional fluid loss control additives, such as polyanionic cellulose (PAC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), have been utilized for fluid loss control; however, these additives are expensive and environmentally harmful. These have led to continued research for more suitable local alternatives, which, if successful, could replace these conventional materials. In this study, the performance of locally sourced materials, Afzelia Africana (AA) and Maranta Arundinacea Root (MAR), was compared to that of the conventional material, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), rheology, and filtration tests were carried out in this study. From the FTIR results, AA and MA exhibited similar functional groups, including amines, aromatics, carboxylic acids, and alcohols, as indicated by the CMC. From the rheology results, AA exhibited a similar viscosity-increasing attribute observed in CMC, while MAR showed to be a poor viscosifier. According to the filtration loss results, MA recorded a 21 mL fluid volume at 9 g, AA recorded a 66 mL fluid volume at 9 g, while CMC recorded 10 mL at 9 g. MAR demonstrated potential to substitute for CMC as a fluid loss control additive when modified.

Keywords

Afzelia Africana

Drilling Fluids

Fluid Loss

Maranta Arundinacea

Water-based Mud

Subjects

Drilling and drilling fluids

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