The Influences of NP100 Surfactant and Pine-Oil Concentrations on Filtrate Volume and Filter-Cake Thickness of Microemulsion-Based Drilling Fluids (O/W)

Abstract

In this work, nonionic surfactant NP100 and pine oil influences on the filtrate volume (FV) and the filter-cake thickness (thkns) of microemulsified drilling fluids were studied. A ternary phase diagram was obtained to define the microemulsion region, where a 2k factorial design was used with the addition of four center points and axial points. Twelve microemulsion points were defined and used later in the formulation of the investigated drilling fluids. The results showed that the increase in the surfactant and pine oil’s concentration increased FV and thkns, withthe oil phase being the most influential component in the filtrate volume and the surfactant being the most influential in the filter-cake thickness. Statistically significant models were obtained. The optimal concentrations were determined for the lowest FV and thkns; 45% of surfactant and 5% of pine oil for the filtrate volume (1.3 mL), and 45% of surfactant and 15% of pine oil for the filter-cake thickness (0.64 mm).

Keywords

• microemulsion
• drilling fluid
• filtrate volume
• filter-cake thickness
• experimental design