Application of a Novel Ecofriendly Okra Powder as Fluid Loss Controller in Water Based Drilling Fluids

Saudi Arabian based companies are spending many millions of dollars a year on import of drilling mud additives to meet the drilling industry demand. To cut the imported materials, locally available materials are preferable. Out of many drilling fluid additives, a single locally available additive such as fluid loss can save millions of dollars a year. The cost and locally available raw material justify the development of drilling fluid additives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In other aspect, local development provides many benefits to the Kingdom including industrial growth, technology ownership and new job opportunities. Okra (Hibiscus esculents) is widely used as a thickener and viscosifier in medical and food industries due to its low cost, availability, longer shelf life, and high thermal tolerance. In addition to that, it is environment friendly and available in abundance locally in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The composition of Okra powder was diagnosed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal stability of Okra was tested using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The Okra powder was mixed in various concentrations such as (1, 2 and 3) grams in 350ml of water based drilling fluid (WBDF). The performance of Okra contained drilling fluids was compared with starch-based drilling fluid. The addition of Okra reduced fluid loss in different proportions at different concentrations. For instance, drilling fluid with 3g Okra concentration had 42% lower fluid loss as compared to the base fluid. The cake thickness was reduced upon the addition of Okra. The low fluid loss and thin filter cake make Okra a useful solution as a fluid loss controller in WBDFs. The addition of Okra powder also increased the viscosity and gel strength of the WBDFs. TGA analysis of Okra powder showed that it has strong thermal stability as compared to starch. Overall, the experimental results suggest that Okra mixed drilling fluids can be used as an alternate solution to starch mixed drilling fluids.