1994 · 24 citations · 4 references
EngineeringOcean EngineeringPetroleum EngineeringDrillingDrilling EngineeringOffshore Petroleum EngineeringDrilling FluidsDrilling OperationsOffshore DrillingDrilling Fluid EngineeringDrilling Fluid PropertiesEmulsifier SystemsMud RheologyOil-based Drilling FluidsSynthetic-based Drilling FluidsTemperature Effects On Drilling Fluids
ABSTRACT Synthetic-based muds (SBM's) were developed as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived oil-based muds (OBM's). Although each synthetic fluid is chemically unique, the physicochemical properties of the SBM's exhibit some common trends. SBM's are safer to work with, more biodegradable and more dispersible in seawater than conventional OBM's. On the other hand, SBM's are more viscous at low temperatures, thin more with increasing temperature, have lower thermal stability and do not dehydrate shales as readily as conventional OBM's. By adjusting the emulsifier package in each mud, these properties may be brought more in line with those of conventional OBM's.
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