The potential application of saponite clay for the production of drilling fluids

Articles in Press

Document Type : Saint Petersburg Mining University (SPMU) 2024

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Technology and Energy Processing, Faculcy of Mineral Processing, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

2 Scientific center "Processing of mineral and technogenic resources", Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

3 Well Drilling Department, Oil and Gas Faculty, Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Abstract

Saponite is classified as a trioctahedral mineral of the smectite group.Natural saponite of the Lomonosov deposit (Arkhangelsk region, Russia) is represented as Na- or Ca- forms according to XRD analysis. The interlayer space of the structure contains water molecules. The saponite clay sampled at the deposit is represented by pulp. The clay powder for the research was obtained by the technology of concentrating fine clay material.The crystallochemical formula of saponite was calculated basing on the data obtained from XRD, XRF and atomic emission analyses. The purpose of the research was to studying the effect of mixed sodium carbonate-sulfate electrolyte(Na2SO4 - 80%; Na2CO3-20%), polyacrylamide (PAA) and low viscosity polyanionic cellulose (PAC L) on the structure, filtration and rheological properties of saponite suspension. The optimum solids content in the water suspension of saponite clay was determined in the range of 85-100 g/l. Going out of range leads to deterioration of filtration properties presented by significant increase in filtration loss or increased thickness of the filtration cake. Filtration loss at 85 g/L solids contentinthewatersuspensionwas 22 cm3/30 min. The addition of mixed sodium carbonate-sulfate electrolyteto the saponite suspension improved rheological properties, but increases filtration loss to 34-36 cm3/30 min.The admixture of polyacrylamide leads rather quickly to flocculation and sedimentation of clay particles; filtration loss was 16-21 cm3/30 min.The presence of polyanionic cellulose in the suspension creates a gel structure, increasing the viscosity of the mud system and significantly reducing filtration loss to 7-9 cm3/30 min.

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International Journal of Engineering

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 May 2024

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