Optimizing the impact of rheological properties on bentonite pre-hydrated based drilling mud through the utilization of pre-hydration

Abstract

Abstract In offshore drilling activities, the employment of seawater mud is indispensable, and its adoption is steadily increasing. Traditionally, attapulgite has held a dominant position as the key element in seawater mud composition. However, a shift is underway towards substituting attapulgite with bentonite owing to the manifold advantages that the latter presents. Bentonite boasts favourable viscosity characteristics and efficient control over water loss, outperforming attapulgite particularly in terms of its capacity for clay absorption. Nevertheless, to harness its thickening capabilities for use with seawater, bentonite necessitates a preliminary hydration process. The pre-hydration procedure involves the amalgamation of seawater and bentonite at a low mixing speed for a duration of 10 minutes, succeeded by a resting interval spanning 16 hours. The integration of this pre-hydrated bentonite system necessitated an extensive research undertaking, encompassing a comprehensive review of pertinent literature, the collection of seawater samples, laboratory experiments conducted at three distinct temperatures comparing both fresh water and seawater formulations, the incorporation of diverse additives to augment the assessment of the mud’s physical attributes, meticulous measurement of the drilling mud’s physical properties, implementing treatments to enhance measurement values under heightened temperatures, meticulous analysis of acquired data, and the comprehensive documentation of research findings in scholarly publications. The crux of this research endeavour lies in attaining the objective of incorporating pre-hydrated bentonite as a pivotal constituent within seawaterbased drilling mud. The realization of this goal hinges on the congruence of the measured physical properties of the drilling mud with predefined specifications. Through a rigorous exploration of these methodologies and a systematic approach to research, the study endeavours to foster advancements in seawater-based drilling mud formulations and their operational effectiveness within offshore drilling contexts.