Evaluation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles addition on the main functional properties of water-based fluids (WBMs)

FEDERICO FOOKES; YURANY VILLADA; MARÍA EUGENIA TAVERNA; CARLOS BUSATTO; NATALIA CASIS; DIANA ESTENOZ

Medellín

Workshop; IX Edition Summer School; 2022

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Drilling fluids are employed in the oil and gas drilling industry to provide several functions such as removing drilled cuttings, lubricating and cooling the drill bit, and providing hydrostatic pressure to maintain borehole stability, among others. The fulfilment of these features is based on the lithology of the formation drilled and the properties of the drilling fluid, which should be designed to achieve the required performance. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) have received increasing interest in different applications because of their unique features, such as controlled pore size, low density, high chemical, thermal stability, and high surface area. This investigation proposes the application of MSN as an additive in water-based drilling fluids (WBMs). The MSN were synthesized by sol-gel method and characterized in terms of morphology, size particle, surface area, porosity and surface charge. The effect of MSN on the main functional properties of WBMs was evaluated and compared with conventional silica nanoparticles (NP).