Effectiveness of Coconut Fiber as a Drilling Mud Additive

Abstract

The potential of powdered coconut fiber derived from mature coconut husks, as a natural additive in water-based mud (WBM) formulations is evaluated in this study. Coconut fiber was processed and sieved to obtain different particle sizes using mesh sizes of 10µm, 20µm, and 40 µm. The processed fibers were used as replacement for barite and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in the formulation of drilling mud. Experimentally, the WBM properties evaluated were pH, mud weight (MW), gel strength, plastic viscosity (PV), apparent viscosity (AV), yield point (YP), fluid loss, and filter cake thickness. The results for mesh size 10µm are pH=7, MW=8.7ppg, PV=6cp, 10min Gel Strength=21, AV=25cp, YP=38lb/100ft, n= 0.93, K=0.57, filter cake=1.3mm, for meshed size 20µm; pH=8, MW=8.7ppg, 10min Gel Strength=35, PV=17cp, AV=35cp, YP=36lb/100ft, n= 0.74, K=0.70, Filter Cake= 0.9mm, and for meshed size 40µm; pH=8, MW=8,7ppg, 10min Gel Strength=29, PV=25cp, AV=32.5cp, YP=15lb/100ft, n=0.76, K=0.67, Filter Cake= 2.0mm. These aforementioned data indicate that powdered coconut fiber substantially improves the gel strength, suspension capabilities, and filtration control of the mud. Natural additives such as coconut fiber can be used as replacement for standard WBM by increasing mud performance, reducing fluid loss, and can be useful in promoting sustainability goals.