Analysis of Selected Fiber Rich Agricultural Waste as Oil-Based Drilling Mud Additives

Abstract The utilization of fiber rich agricultural waste as additives in oil-based drilling mud has emerged as a significant area of research within the oil and gas industry, this is occasioned by the increasing demand for sustainable drilling practices and environmental stewardship. This thesis investigates the potential of incorporating Cowpea skin powder (CSP), Sugarcane Rind Powder (SRP) and Yam bark Powder (YP) into oil-based drilling mud formulations to enhance drilling performance, mitigate environmental impact, and promote resource efficiency. The additives were analysed by SEM-EDX analysis, Proximate analysis, and Biomass composition analysis. CSP was found to contain 56.7% cellulose while SRP and YP contained 70.78 and 64.18% respectively. CSP also contained 80.45% Holocellulose while SRP and YP contained 83.84 and 84.04 % respectively. Other valuable contents of these agricultural wastes include, carbon, Protein, Ash content, and valuable metals. After a thorough performance analysis, CSP, SRP and YP showed potential to improve cuttings suspension and transportation by increasing plastic viscosity up to 500% with CSP at 2g and 1500% at 10g, Yield point and shear stress also got improved. All three additives reduced fluid loss, with the best fluid loss being 35% with SRP at 6g. However, only Yam bark powder showed up to 20% reduction in mud density at 6g, CSP and SRP showed no significant change in mud density. For pH, only CSP caused an improves pH, moving the mud from the acidic spectrum to alkaline, other additives tested showed no significant effect, while CSP reduced the mud viscosity, SRP and YP increased the viscosity, YP increased viscosity as high as 300% with 6g addition.