Use of Bamboo Leaf Ash as an Additive to Aqueous Drilling Fluid and Study the Variation of Rheological and Filtration Loss Properties

Abstract

Requisition of efficient use of imprudent by-products for the enhancement of drilling fluid is preferentially beneficial for a hassle-free and relentless drilling process. Intricately designed drilling fluids have been used in the petroleum industry having significant properties to meet many operational requirements. The conventional methods are proven to be efficient in the current scenario, but they have limited capability and may not be suitable for future drilling operations due to the increasing challenges in the petroleum industry. A need exists for a strong, stable and customizable fluid which can not only satisfy the basic functions of a drilling mud, but also make productive use of waste products for its enhancement. This paper deals with the possibility of using Bamboo Leaf Ash (BLA) as an additive in Water Based Drilling Fluid (WBDF). The main components of BLA include silica (SiO2), aluminum (Al2O3) and iron oxide (Fe2O3). The yield percentage of silica from bamboo leaf ash is 78%. In our study we have attempted to use BLA as an additive to WBDF comparative analysis of the rheological properties of drilling fluids with different percentage of BLA has been studied. Based on the comparative study it is observed that BLA can be used as an additive to WBDF.