Effect of Acacia Gum Powder on the Rheological and Thixotropic Properties of Drilling Fluids

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1 , 98 - 101 , 30.04.2025

Onur Eser Kök

https://izlik.org/JA88EP24GM

Abstract

Drilling operations are an important component of energy production. For a successful drilling operation, highly efficient drilling fluid must be used. The efficiency of drilling fluid is provided by different organic and inorganic additives. In this study, the effect of acacia gum powder on the rheological and thixotropic properties of drilling fluids is investigated. The results are compared with Xanthan Gum, which is widely used in industrial applications. The experiments added acacia gum powder and xanthan gum to the spud-type drilling fluids prepared at different ratios (between 0.05-1.0 wt.%). Firstly, rheogram curves of the additive drilling muds were created and the flow profile was determined. Then, rheological properties were analyzed by apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, and yield point analysis. Also, thixotropic properties were determined by shear thinning index and thixotropy index calculations. As a result of the analysis, it is determined that acacia gum powder can be used as an alternative additive material to xanthan gum as a rheology and thixotropy enhancer in spud-type drilling fluids.

Keywords

Acacia gum powder , drilling fluid , rheology , thixotropy , drilling

References

• Agwu, O.E., Akpabio, J.U., Ekpenyong, M.E., Inyang, U.G., Asuquo, D.E., Eyoh, I.J., Adeoye, O.S., 2021. A comprehensive review of laboratory, field and modelling studies on drilling mud rheology in high temperature high pressure (HTHP) conditions. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering 94, 104046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2021.104046.
• Akpan, E.U., 2024. Utilising Environmentally Friendly Polymers as Rheological Control and Fluid Loss Additives in Water-Based Drilling Muds. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 213195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2024.213195.
• Caenn, R., Chillingar, G.V., 1996. Drilling fluids: State of the art. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 14 (3-4), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/0920-4105(95)00051-8.
• Guan, Z., Chen, T., Liao, H., 2021. Theory and technology of drilling engineering (Vol. 789). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9327-7.
• Khan, M.A., Li, M.C., Lv, K., Sun, J., Liu, C., Liu, X., Shen, H., Dai, L., Lalji, S.M., 2024. Cellulose derivatives as environmentally-friendly additives in water-based drilling fluids: A review. Carbohydrate Polymers 122355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122355.
• Kim, J., Dornfeld, D.A., 2001. Cost estimation of drilling operations by a drilling burr control chart and Bayesian statistics. Journal of Manufacturing Systems 20 (2), 89-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-6125(01)80032-7.
• Menezes, R.R., Marques, L.N., Campos, L.A., Ferreira, H.S., Santana, L.N.L., Neves, G.A., 2010. Use of statistical design to study the influence of CMC on the rheological properties of bentonite dispersions for water-based drilling fluids. Applied Clay Science 49 (1-2), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2010.03.013.
• O Kimya Limited, 2024. Gum Arabic (Arap Zamki) [Online] Available from: https://okimya.com.tr/jel-kivam-verici-kimyasallar/gum-arabic-arap-zamki/ (Accessed: March 06, 2025).
• Oseh, J.O., Mohd, N.M., Gbadamosi, A.O., Agi, A., Blkoor, S.O., Ismail, I., Igbafe, A.I., 2023. Polymer nanocomposites application in drilling fluids: A review. Geoenergy Science and Engineering 222, 211416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2023.211416.
• Villada, Y., Gallardo, F., Erdmann, E., Casis, N., Olivares, L., Estenoz, D., 2017. Functional characterization on colloidal suspensions containing xanthan gum (XGD) and polyanionic cellulose (PAC) used in drilling fluids for a shale formation. Applied Clay Science 149, 59-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2017.08.020.