Abstract: The drilling process relies on drilling fluids to create a safe, usable and cost-effective wellbore. Many additives used to maintain drilling fluid properties are non-biodegradable and pose environmental and human health risks. This concern has increased interest in exploring eco-friendly materials as additives in water-based mud. This study investigated the impact of Dry Mango Leaves Powder (DMLP), obtained from the Kent Mango Tree, as an additive in water-based mud. DMLP was prepared by crushing and sieving it to a 75-micron size. Five drilling fluid samples were created: four with different DMLP concentrations (1.75 g to 7.0 g) and one control without DMLP. The samples were aged for 16 hours at room temperature before assessing the mud weight, pH, and filtration characteristics at room temperature and rheological properties at 77 °F (25 °C), 120 °F (48.8 °C) and 150 °F (65.5 °C). The properties were determined by following the standards of the American Petroleum Institute. The results demonstrated that DMLP effectively reduced alkalinity by 25.2% at a concentration of 7.0g. Rheological values and plastic viscosity decreased with increasing DMLP concentration at 77 °F, 120 °F and 150 °F, though there were no significant changes in the yield point. The addition of DMLP improved gel strengths with the difference in the final and initial gel strength staying below lb/100ft² at all concentrations and temperatures, except for a concentration of 1.75 g at 77 °F. The addition of 7.0 g of DMLP reduced the fluid loss by 22.4%. Although DMLP showed potential in improving gel strength and fluid loss, its effectiveness as a weighting agent remains limited. This study demonstrates the potential of DMLP as an eco-friendly additive to enhance certain properties of water-based mud, making it a promising alternative for sustainable drilling operations.
Abstract: The drilling process relies on drilling fluids to create a safe, usable and cost-effective wellbore. Many additives used to maintain drilling fluid properties are non-biodegradable and pose environmental and human health risks. This concern has increased interest in exploring eco-friendly materials as additives in water-based mud. This study invest...Show More