Friction Reduction by using of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Water Based Mud

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

The growing demands of drilling fluids for long extended-reach wells require innovative solutions to tackle torque and drag issues in the wellbore. Nanotechnology is a promising advancement that is already being applied in other sectors to reduce friction coefficients in hydraulic hose lubrication fluids. Beyond their other roles, drilling fluids also act as lubricants within the wellbore. It is widely recognized that oil-based muds (OBM) provide superior lubrication efficiency compared to water-based muds (WBM). Consequently, there is increasing research interest in the effective application of nanoparticles in drilling fluids, especially in WBM, to lessen the mechanical friction between the drill string and casing. This study conducted tribological tests to explore whether friction reduction occurs with MWCNT at concentrations of 0.125, 0.250, 0.500, 0.750, and 1.250 g. Various particle concentrations in the fluid were examined to see if lubrication efficiency could be optimized for a specific particle concentration. The study's experimental phase employed a pin-on-disk apparatus alongside a modular compact rheometer (MCR), facilitating tribology and viscosity assessments. The tribology tests assess the friction factor between metals, which is affected by the fluid's lubrication properties. Meanwhile, the rheology equipment determines the fluid's viscosity across a range of temperatures, following the established guidelines of the Fann viscometer. Despite having an international procedural manual, the results from the pin-on-disk apparatus are considered dependable. A key observation highlights the interplay between temperature and nanoparticles within the fluids. Results from the pin-on-disk apparatus demonstrate that nanoparticles significantly lower the friction factor.

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