Performance of Bio-Based Graphene Nanoplatelets Enriched Water Based Drilling Fluid Towards Drill Cuttings Transportation in Directional Wellbores

ABSTRACT Deviated borehole drilling poses significant challenges for cuttings transport while maintaining environmental sustainability in the oil and gas industry. The application of surface-modified graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in aqueous drilling fluids to these problems is investigated in this work. Cuttings transportation efficiency (CTE) could be improved by designing drilling fluid with improved rheological properties. The formulated water-based mud (WBM) lifting capacity of the drilled cuttings (small, medium, and large) at deviated hole angles (50°, 55°, and 60°) was assessed using different concentrations of the nano additive (0.125, 0.25 and 0.375wt%) at different flow rates (0.6, 0.8 and 1.0L/s). Results show that adding modified GNPs to the WBM increases its rheological properties, thus increasing the mud carrying and circulating capabilities. In addition, nano-enriched WBM exhibits improved stability and resistance to formation fluid intrusion. GNPs additions to drilling fluids increased the CTE in all experiments comparing nano enhanced drilling fluids with conventional WBM. It was also discovered that at the most difficult hole angle of 55°, the nano enriched WBM records its lowest CTE of 55% which corresponds to 34% from the conventional WBM which represents 61.8% increment. The findings reveal a notable enhancement in the fluid's ability to carry and efficiently remove drill cuttings, particularly in highly deviated wells where traditional drilling fluids tend to struggle.