Enhancing drilling mud performance with locally modified polyamide: A comparative analysis of thermal stability and filtration efficiency

Despite the important role of traditional polymers like Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), Synthetic polymers, and Polyacrylamide (PAM); most of these additives have not performed well in high-temperature situations. This is because their inherent structure and bond strength are not suitable, leading to structural degradation. In this study, an innovative approach was undertaken to enhance the performance of drilling fluids by chemically modifying locally sourced Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC) into a novel Polyamide (PA) polymer. This polymer, along with Commercial PAC, Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), and Polyacrylamide (PAM), was used to formulate drilling muds, which were systematically evaluated for thermal stability and rheological properties under high-temperature conditions. Advanced characterization techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), were employed to investigate the elemental compositions, functional group arrangements, and thermal degradation profiles of the polymers. The results revealed that the novel PA polymer exhibited the highest thermal stability, attributed to its dominant C-H functional group peak at 3098.76 cm⁻¹ and high elemental composition (74.27 % carbon). Comparatively, Commercial PAC demonstrated robust thermal characteristics with a carbon composition of 76.69 %, but its performance was surpassed by PA due to PA's superior structural modifications. In terms of fluid loss control, the unmodified PAC displayed a filtrate loss of 19.7 ml, which significantly improved to 14 ml following its modification into PA (Sample B). This was notably better than the filtrate losses observed for Commercial PAC (Sample C), PAM (Sample D), and CMC (Sample A). The enhanced performance of PA (Sample B) was linked to its optimized chemical structure and physical characteristics, providing superior thermal resilience and effective fluid loss control. The results suggest that Sample B demonstrates higher thermal stability and effective control over fluid loss, particularly at high temperatures. Sample D exhibited exceptional gel strength qualities, making it well-suited for static situations. This study not only highlights the potential of local resources for the development of advanced drilling fluid additives but also establishes the novel PA polymer as a superior alternative to conventional polymers. • Novel Polyamide polymer was synthesized by chemically modifying locally sourced Polyanionic Cellulose • Polyamide demonstrating exceptional thermal resilience compared to Commercial PAC, CMC, and PAM. • Polyamide-modified drilling fluid achieved the lowest filtrate loss among tested additives • Findings highlight the capability of Polyamide to mitigate common drilling challenges and improve sustainability • This work provides a pathway for integrating innovative polymer additives into the oil and gas industry