Cellulose Nanoparticles as Modifiers for Rheology and Fluid Loss in Bentonite Water-based Fluids

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b00498
• Publication Date: 2015-02-13T16:55:42Z
• Authors: Mei-Chun Li; Qinglin Wu; Kunlin Song; Yan Qing; Yiqiang Wu
• Keywords: Bentonite; Carboxymethyl cellulose; Filtration (mathematics); Shear thinning; Thixotropy; Apparent viscosity; Nanocellulose

Rheological and filtration characteristics of drilling fluids are considered as two critical aspects to ensure the success a operation. This research demonstrates effectiveness cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs), including microfibrillated (MFC) nanocrystals (CNCs) in enhancing rheological performances bentonite (BT) water-based (WDFs). CNCs were isolated from MFC through sulfuric acid hydrolysis. In comparison with MFC, resultant had much smaller dimensions, more negative surface charge, higher stability aqueous solutions, lower viscosity, less evident shear thinning behavior. These differences resulted distinctive microstructures between MFC/BT- CNC/BT-WDFs. A typical "core-shell" structure was created CNC/BT-WDFs due strong interactions among BT layers, CNCs, immobilized water molecules. However, similar not formed MFC/BT-WDFs. As result, superior properties, temperature stability, fluid loss volume, thinner filter cakes than Moreover, presence polyanionic (PAC) further improved CNC/BT-WDFs, suggesting synergistic effect PAC CNCs.