Optimization of the Synthesis of Low Viscosity and High Shear Sulfonated Guar Gum for Enhancing Its Performance in Drilling Fluids

Guar gum (GG) is a classic polysaccharide gel former in drilling fluids, but its native network is hindered by high water-insoluble residue, modest yield-point (YP) build-up and poor tolerance to temperature ≥ 120 °C and salinity ≥ 12 wt% NaCl. Here we transformed GG into a sulfonated guar gum (SGG) hydrogel via alkaline etherification with sodium 3-chloro-2-hydroxy-propane sulfonate. FTIR, EA and TGA corroborate the grafting of -SO₃^- groups (DS = 0.18), while rheometry shows that a 0.3 wt% SGG aqueous gel exhibits 34% higher YP/PV ratio and stronger shear-thinning than native GG, indicating a denser yet still reversible three-dimensional network. In 4 wt% Ca-bentonite mud the SGG gel film reduces API fluid loss by 12% and maintains YP/PV = 0.33 after hot-rolling at 120 °C, a retention 4.7-fold that of GG; likewise, in 12 wt% NaCl brine the gel still affords YP/PV = 0.44, evidencing electrostatically reinforced hydration layers that resist ionic compression. Linear-swell tests reveal shale inhibition improved by 14%. The introduced -SO₃^- functions strengthen inter-chain repulsion and water binding, yielding a thermally robust, salt-tolerant polysaccharide gel network. As a green, high-performance gel additive, SGG offers a promising route for next-generation water-based drilling fluids subjected to high temperature and high salinity.