Date of Award
2012
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Engineering Science
First Advisor
John O'Haver
Second Advisor
Adam Smith
Third Advisor
Paul Scovazzo
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Weighting agents like calcium carbonate (CC) are added to drilling mud to improve mud properties and performance during oil and gas drilling operations. Oil-based mud (OBM), a more preferred drilling mud, being hydrophobic is particularly non-compatible with hydrophilic CC. This work explored an economically viable admicellar polymerization technique to surface-modify the high energy hydrophilic CC surface to a low energy hydrophobic surface by polymerizing organic styrene monomer within an admicelle of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 adsorbed on the CC surface. BET N2 particle size analysis, Soxhlet extraction of the coated polymer, Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectra analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the treated CC and polymer extract confirmed the production of a successful thin film polystyrene-coated CC. The coarse CC size grade had the most polymer. Consequently, OBM formulated with the treated CC is expected to; be more homogeneous, achieve higher wellbore pressure, remove drill cuttings better, have a more stable thin film low-permeability filter cake, and exhibit an enhanced overall performance. Pilot mud testing of a surface-modified CC formulated OBM is under way.
Recommended Citation
Ojo, Olugbenga Samuel, "Admicellar Polymerization to Compatibilize Calcium Carbonate With Oil-Based Drilling Mud" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 214.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/214
Concentration/Emphasis
Chemical Engineering