Experimental study of rheological properties and filtration and thermal conductivity of water-based drilling fluid using SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, enhanced WBM was prepared using SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ nanofluids (size 50 nm) in aqueous solution of bentonite as a base fluid and investigated as an additive on filtration and rheological properties and thermal conductivity at three temperatures of 27, 50, 80 °C by standard methods in of WBM. The nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The nanofluids are prepared in different concentrations of 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt% in base fluid. Experimental data with flow curves for different NWBMs are fitted to rheological drilling fluid models (power law model, Bingham plastic model, and Herschel-Bulkley model). According to the results, NWBDF follow Herschel Bulkley's model for rheological behavior. All specimens show shear thinning behavior Because, with increasing apparent viscosity, the shear rate decreases. After adding 1wt% of SiO₂ nanoparticles, the plastic viscosity (PV) increased to 14 ± 0.02 cP. Nanoparticles at different concentrations reduced the filtration efficiency of bentonite muds. Darcy's law was used to compare the permeability of clay cakes and showed that nanofluids are more impermeable cakes than the base fluid. Thermal conductivity in two samples was significantly improved, especially in the presence of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles at 80 °C.