Nanoscale Laponite as a Potential Shale Inhibitor in Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Stabilization of Wellbore Stability and Mechanism Study

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b11419
• Publication Date: 2018-09-06T00:00:56Z
• Authors: Xianbin Huang; Haokun Shen; Jinsheng Sun; Kaihe Lv; Jingping Liu; Xiaodong Dong; Shaojie Luo
• Keywords: Thixotropy

Shale hydration is the main reason causing wellbore instability in oil and gas drilling operations. In this study, nanoscale laponite as a shale inhibitor was employed to stabilize wellbores. The inhibition property of suspensions evaluated by an immersion experiment, linear swelling measurement, recovery test. Then mechanism studied using capillary suction time (CST) thixotropy plugging performance evaluation, related theoretical analysis. Evaluation experiment results showed that had better than widely used inhibitors potassium chloride (KCl) poly(ester amine) (PA). study revealed integration several factors strengthened suspensions. Laponite nanoparticles could plug interlayer spaces clays electrostatic interaction reduce water invasion; "house cards" structure enables large CST values low free contents; excellent nanofluid allow nanofilm form order invasion into formation; particles substantially permeability less porous surfaces. Furthermore, considerably decrease filtrate volume fluid, while KCl PA negative influences on properties fluid. This approach described herein might provide avenue inhibit hydration.