Recent advances in application of nanomaterials as additives for drilling fluids
Rupali Gautam, Manisha Sahai, Sanat Kumar
Abstract
The exponentially growing energy demand and draining of conventional reservoirs is putting tremendous pressure on the industry to explore the feasibility of producing crude from deep wells, offshore sites, unconventional reservoirs, and challenging high pressure/high-temperature environment. Such explorations are extremely challenging due to the complexity of conditions encountered during the drilling operations. Since drilling muds are a critical component in drilling operations, there has been a rise in research toward developing smart drilling fluids (or smart fluids). Smart fluids are specially designed drilling fluids that are tailor-made to suit different sub-surface conditions to achieve safe, efficient, and successful operations. This is done by adding various Nanoparticles (NPs) as additives in the fluid, which in turn significantly modify the characteristics, properties and performance of the fluid. This article focuses on different smart fluids developed using various NPs and tries to summarize their performance and impact on challenges that commonly create hindrances in the drilling operations. Problems including shale instability, formation damage, fluid loss, wellbore instability, thermal conductivity and stability, lubricity, cutting lifting capacity etc. have been dealt with. Type, size, shape, optimum concentration, and combinations of NPs have been discussed here. The paper also encapsulates some remarkable patents in this domain. The critical evaluation and results of various researches suggest that Smart fluids developed using NPs exhibits significantly modified properties and can help overcome numerous harsh drilling problems. The paper mentions some challenges regarding these technologies and their full implementation as well as the scope for future development.