Flow and Deposition of Colloidal Suspensions through Porous Media and on Model Surfaces

• Author / Creator

  Balavi, Hafez

• Operations with drilling fluids require multiple performance requirements. Among those, fluid loss issue is a very severe problem that is encountered in many drilling operations. Rheological and transport properties of drilling muds in porous media control the fluid loss behavior in reservoir formations. Additionally, some kinds of drilling fluids especially those formulated with hydrocarbons, oils, etc. are strongly contaminating. Therefore, it is essential to introduce drilling fluids of very low or negligible contaminating potential for sustainable development in oilfields. In the formulation of such muds it is becoming increasingly common to use cellulose-based materials as additives, due to their low cost, rheological properties, and scant environmental impact. Cellulose-based materials have been used to control water loss for many years. In addition, the rheological behavior of drilling muds can be optimized with cellulose-based polymers of different chain lengths and properties. Cellulose nanocrystal particles (CNC) and carboxymethyl cellulose polymer (CMC) are typical examples of such materials. This research is about the preparation of water-based drilling fluid formulations enhanced by CNC and CMC, selecting optimal preparation for a field test at an actual drilling site, and investigation of cross-flow filtration mechanisms of cellulose-formulated bentonite suspensions. Filtration and rheological properties of cellulose-bentonite suspensions were investigated and CNC/CMC functions in bentonite particles deposition and suspension stability were highlighted by dynamic filtration tests, flow stability of the drilling fluid and rheological experiments, colloidal deposition studies and assessing and characterizing filter cake properties.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Cellulose Nanocrystals
  • Bentonite
  • Colloidal Deposition
  • Porous Media
  • Fluid Loss
  • Drilling Fluids
  • Cross-flow Filtration

• Graduation date

  Spring 2017

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3ZG6GK5G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.