Petroleum Engineering
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Item Advancing sustainability of drilling fluid: coconut and shea butter oils as alternative to diesel(Sciencedomain International, 2024) Akintola, S.A.; Ehwarieme, F.; Amaechi, I.Drilling fluid is a key element in the drilling process because it lifts cuttings to the surface, maintains a stable wellbore, and generates sufficient hydrostatic pressure to prevent the influx of formation fluids into the wellbore. While oil-based drilling fluids offer advantages like wellbore stability, lubrication, and temperature resistance, disposing of oil-contaminated cuttings, particularly those using diesel, harms the environment. This study explores the use of coconut oil and shear butter oil, a renewable and biodegradable resource, as the base for oil-based drilling fluids. Two samples of coconut oil and shea butter oil-based mud samples were formulated and tested in the laboratory against the conventional crude oil-based mud. Laboratory tests compared each sample of coconut oil and shea butter oil-based mud against conventional diesel-based mud. Tests included FTIR characterization of additives, and evaluation of gel strengths, yield point, viscosity, and emulsion stability at 120°F and 300°F. Filtration loss and mud thickness were also measured. Results indicate that coconut oil and shea butter oil-based drilling fluids offer promising rheological properties and environmental benefits. Coconut oil-based sample (VCO I) exhibited superior viscosity and emulsion stability, though it produced a thicker mud cake, indicating a need for optimization. These alternatives present a viable solution to reduce the environmental impact of drilling operations. Further research and field trials are recommended for practical application.Item Performance evaluation and application of apparent viscosity models based on marsh funnel viscosity and mud density using high-temperature high-pressure field data(Melbourne Scientific Publishers, 2024) Ekanem, P.E.; Akintola, S.A.The exponential increase in global demand for energy has necessitated increased oil and gas operations in harsh terrains. This in turn requires high-level precision in operations as errors may lead to great implications on cost and resources. Drilling fluid plays a key role in the success of every oil and gas drilling operation. Therefore, monitoring and engineering of drilling fluid in real time to ensure its sustained suitability as it goes through different formations and conditions remain a priority. Different mathematical models have been researched to complement this effort. However, practical application of these models has not been addressed, creating a gap between theoretical solutions and practical applications. Field data from five different wells were used to evaluate the performance of five models in predicting the apparent viscosity of drilling fluids based on marsh funnel and mud density test results. The best prediction had root mean square errors of 2.57; R-squared of 0.71; mean absolute percentage error of 5%; and mean absolute error of 2.16. It was found that mathematical models could be used to predict apparent viscosity with high accuracy and that the models could be used to identify regions of concern during the drilling process by a simple history matching and comparing of the performance of the models on previous data using a particular model and comparing the result with results from other models to observe patterns. This work, for the first time, gives a practical application of mathematical models based on marsh funnel and mud density tests.