Optimization of the Formulation of Drilling Mud using Box – Behnken Design

This study examines the formulation and optimization of drilling mud utilizing locally sourced materials, specifically cassava starch, corn cob ash, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), as economical and sustainable alternatives. The clay was evaluated, formulated, and optimized using Response Surface Methodology, specifically employing the Box-Behnken Design to enhance critical rheological parameters, including apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity. Experimental results demonstrate that these locally sourced additives enhance drilling fluid performance, providing competitive rheological characteristics comparable to conventional drilling muds. The optimization study confirmed that the developed models for apparent and plastic viscosity are highly significant, with strong predictive capabilities. ANOVA results showed that clay, ash, and starch significantly influenced apparent viscosity, with interaction effects such as clay-ash and clay-starch playing key roles. The high R² value (0.9737) and adequate precision (19.2750) validated the model's reliability. Similarly, plastic viscosity was significantly affected by clay and ash, with notable nonlinear interactions. The R² value (0.9566) and adequate precision (14.5243) confirmed model accuracy. Results obtained shows the optimum apparent viscosity of 116.431 mPa.s and plastic viscosity of 75.6167 mPa.s with the weight of the addictives being clay: 20g, Ash: 1.5g, NaOH: 2g, and starch: 5g. Overall, the findings suggest that optimizing clay and starch content enhances apparent viscosity, while clay and ash primarily influence plastic viscosity, improving drilling mud performance