Improvement of Local (Umuna) Clay for the Production of Drilling Mud
Onyejekwe Ifeanyichukwu Michael
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, March 2023
Pages:
28-36
Received:
13 January 2023
Accepted:
14 February 2023
Published:
24 April 2023
Abstract: The continuous importation of foreign bentonite in the presence of proved and potential clay deposits spread across states in the country is not consistent with the government desire and commitment for the development of local content. This research explores the possibility of improving the Umuna local clay samples for the production of drilling mud. The clay samples were experimentally analysed in accordance with API standard of measurement. The obtained results show a marked trend as most of the considered rheological parameters such as yp, PV, gel strength, yp/PV, viscosity @600rpm and fluid loss were far away from satisfying the minimum required API standard specification for drilling mud. While parameters such as mud density, n-factor, K-factor, specific gravity and filter cake all satisfy the minimum required API standard specification for drilling mud production. The rheological properties of the local clays were significantly improved after beneficiation with 2g PAC-R. These obtained result after beneficiation now equated to that of the imported bentonite and also satisfy the required minimum API standard specification. The local clay fell under the inactive soil type based on its average activity value of 0.52. The presence of oxide compositions and cation exchange capacity (CEC) range of 70 – 150 Meq/100g suggests and confirms that the analyzed clay is of the montmorillonite family, with traces of illite which is good for drilling mud production. The obtained average thinner cake value (0.35) for the local clay is more desirable in drilling operations for reducing the risk of pipe sticking. This property with the combination of high value (29.39av) of consistency factor (k) and low value (0.28av) of the power law flow behavior index (n) portrays the clay sample been very much adequate for effective hole cleaning due to its high viscosity resulting from high consistency factor (k) and enough shear thinning property derived from the low power law flow behavior index (n).
Abstract: The continuous importation of foreign bentonite in the presence of proved and potential clay deposits spread across states in the country is not consistent with the government desire and commitment for the development of local content. This research explores the possibility of improving the Umuna local clay samples for the production of drilling mu...
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Experimental Study on the Suitability of Local Egg Shell and Snail Shell as Additives for Drilling Mud pH Control
Onyejekwe Ifeanyichukwu Michael
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, March 2023
Pages:
37-46
Received:
13 January 2023
Accepted:
14 February 2023
Published:
24 April 2023
Abstract: Millions of dollars associated with importation cost has and is still been spent by oil companies carrying out drilling operations in Nigeria, and this if allow to continue unchecked, does not align with the country policy of promoting local content in the oil and gas industry. This study experimentally evaluates the suitability of local eggshell and snail shell ash for use as pH control additives in water base mud by comparing it to that of conventional chemical additives (sodium hydroxide, NaoH) that served as the control experiment. The major drilling mud properties considered in this study are mud density, pH value and rheological properties, with additives concentration of 0.2g to 1.0g each. The result from the study shows that mud prepared with eggshell has a slight increase in density (8.70 – 8.75ppg) while that of snail shell was higher (8.85 – 8.90ppg). These result for the eggshell and snail shell closely compares to that of the control and satisfies the API required minimum standard specification (8.65 – 9.60pp) for drilling mud. At the same concentration, the pH values of mud prepared with eggshell responded positively, compares to that of the control and was within the API required minimum standard specification (9.5 – 12.5) while that of snail shell was seen to give low pH values but was favourable at 1.0g concentration. The result for rheological properties (viscosity and gel strength) shows an improvement with an increase in the concentration of the samples for the eggshell and snail shell. Generally, from the obtained result in this study for all the evaluated mud properties, it is concluded that with respect to API required standard specification for drilling mud, that the eggshell is the most promising and has a good potential for drilling mud purposes when beneficiated in the right amount. This study recommends that government should support and encourage purposeful research on eggshell and snail shell for use as additives in drilling mud formulation with the sole aim of supporting the local content aspiration of the nation.
Abstract: Millions of dollars associated with importation cost has and is still been spent by oil companies carrying out drilling operations in Nigeria, and this if allow to continue unchecked, does not align with the country policy of promoting local content in the oil and gas industry. This study experimentally evaluates the suitability of local eggshell a...
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A S-wave Spectral Decomposition Hydrocarbon Detection Method Based on P-wave and S-wave Source and Its Application
Qian Zhao,
Zhigang Chen,
Hui Ma,
Xing Sun,
Yan Wang,
Jianming Guo,
Jiru Guo
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, March 2023
Pages:
47-52
Received:
26 March 2023
Accepted:
26 April 2023
Published:
10 May 2023
Abstract: S-wave source vector exploration is a promising technology in future seismic exploration. Conventional P-wave and S-wave joint inversion methods for hydrocarbon detection are limited in some aspects. First, P-wave and S-wave joint inversion is mainly based on the converted wave theory, but no theoretical support for S-wave generated by S-wave source. Second, the inversion method is complex and difficult to operate. Because P-wave and S-wave from S-wave source should accurately match with each other, without an effective approach, it has to follow the method of P-wave matching with converted wave, so it is not helpful to extensive application. This paper proposes a comprehensive s-wave spectral decomposition hydrocarbon detection method based on p-wave and s-wave source. First, the velocity ratio of P-wave to S-wave (Vp/Vs ratio) is derived to be equal to the frequency notch period ratio of P-wave to S-wave, and approximately equal to the dominant frequency ratio of P-wave to S-wave. Second, spectral decomposition is conducted at the target layer to obtain the tuning frequency spectra of P-wave and S-wave seismic data, respectively, and the dominant frequencies of P-wave and S-wave are automatically identified. Third, the Vp/Vs ratio and Poisson's ratio are calculated according to the dominant frequency ratio of P-wave to S-wave for final hydrocarbon detection. This method is independent on well data and accurate matching of P-wave with S-wave data, it is simple, quick and efficient. It’s widely applicable in any areas more or less explored. Application in an oilfield in western China has obtained effective results.
Abstract: S-wave source vector exploration is a promising technology in future seismic exploration. Conventional P-wave and S-wave joint inversion methods for hydrocarbon detection are limited in some aspects. First, P-wave and S-wave joint inversion is mainly based on the converted wave theory, but no theoretical support for S-wave generated by S-wave sourc...
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