Production and performance evaluation of drilling mud using specific locally sourced materials

Abstract

The importation of drilling mud into Nigeria, apart from draining the nation’s reserves in hard currency, is also inimical to the local content policy being currently promoted for the oil industry in the country. Thus, the need for local sourcing of bentonitic clays or close substitutes has become imperative. This study proffers an alternative to the importation of drilling mud and shows an experimental approach on the preparation of drilling mud with readily available locally sourced materials, such as pulverized groundnut husk, tronna, burnt palm-head sponge powder, bentonite, barite and starch. Materials used for the study were collected from the Mubi local government area of Adamawa State, Akwanga local government area of Nassarawa State and Jos-north local government area of Plateau State. The mineralogical and physicochemical properties of the locally sourced bentonite and barite samples were determined by means of X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and cationic exchange capacity (CEC), all carried out in the Nigerian Mining institute of Geosciences, Jos Plateau State. The drilling mud was produced and its physicochemical and rheological properties carried out based on the API mud production standards. Results of cost analysis showed that producing 100 kg water-base drilling mud from locally source material, cost N 14, 715.75, which is 22.3% cheaper than conventional drilling mud imported into the country. Keywords–Drilling mud, mineralogical properties, rheological properties, locally sourced materials