Skip to main content
. 2021 Jul 27;14(15):4171. doi: 10.3390/ma14154171

Table 2.

Literature studies on the effects of nanomaterials as fluid loss agents in drilling fluids.

Types of Nanomaterials Modified Rheological Properties Experimental Parameters Conclusions References
Carbon nano-tubes (CNT)

  • Filtration loss (API and HTHP)

  • Shale inhibition

 LPLT and HPHT

  • 248 °F

  • 302 °F

  • 347 °F

  • 392 °F

 Addition of 0.8% CNT in WBDF reduced significant filtration loss in HTHP conditions. [127]
Ferric oxide (Fe2O3)

  • Filtration loss (API and HTHP)

 LPLT and HPHT Addition of Fe2O3 in nanoparticles increased fluid loss at LTLP. [128]
Graphene

  • Filtration loss (API)

  • Shale inhibition

 LPHT

  • 120 °F

  • 351 °F

 Results showed 30% API filtration loss when 1–5 wt% of graphene were added to nanoparticles in 10 ppg WBDF. [129]

  • MWCNT

  • Gold nanoparticles

  • Filtration loss (API)

  • Mud cake thickness

 LPLT Au nanoparticles-MWCNT at 0.005% w/v exhibit reduction in filtration loss by 6%. [130]

  • MWCNT

  • Graphene oxide

  • Filtration loss

  • Mud cake thickness

 LPLT

  • ~100 psi

 MWCNT and graphene oxide at ratio 1:1 of 0.2g each, reduces fluid loss and mud cake thickness. [131]
Polystyrene

  • Filtration loss (API and HTHP)

  • Mud cake thickness

 LPLT and HPHT

  • 24–150 °C

  • 100–500 psi

 Reduction of 50.7% and 61.1% of filtration loss for LPLT and HPHT conditions, respectively. Low permeable and thinner mud cake thickness is also observed through addition of nano-polystyrene. [132]

  • Polystyrene

  • Clay

  • Filtration loss (API)

  • Yield point

  • Gel Strength

 250°F Nanocomposite achieved a reduced API filtration loss by 22% in WBDF and showed excellent thermal stability at high temperature, 250°F. [109]
Sepiolite

  • Filtration loss

  • Mud cake thickness

 HPHT

  • 77–365 °F

  • 100–16,000 psi

 4.0 wt% of nano-sepiolite with 30–90 nm diameter showed reduced filtration loss under HPHT conditions. [133]
GO

  • Filtration loss

  • Mud cake thickness

 HPHT Graphene oxide nanosheets using >0.5 wt% improved stability by plugging and sealing of micropores. Reduction in filtration loss by up to 50% by adding 0.8 wt% of graphene oxide was observed. [134]
Polymer-graphene oxide

  • Filtration loss

 240 °C Highly efficient filtration loss properties as compared to bentonite-based mud. [135]
SiO2

  • Filtration loss

  • Mud cake thickness

 LPLT and HPHT

  • 199 °F

  • 1000 psi

 0.7 wt% of SiO2 reduces filtration losses when concentration of SiO2 is increased. In addition, the lowest mud cake thickness (1 mm) was also obtained. [105]
Synthetic based Acrylamide–styrene Copolymer(SBASC)

  • Plastic viscosity

  • Yield point

  • Gel strength

  • Filtration loss

 250 °F SBASC achieved reduction in API and HTHP filtration loss by 47.5% and 38.8%, respectively. [136]
T80ZnO

  • Filtration loss

 API/HTHP

  • 80–250 °F

  • 100–500 psi

 0.7g of T80ZnO mitigated API filtration loss and HTHP filtration loss by 17% and 30%, respectively. [137]
TiO2- Bentonite

  • Filtration loss (API and HTHP)

  • Mud cake thickness

 API/HTHP API and HTHP filtration loss reduced by 10% and 9.2%, respectively. [138]

MWCNT = multi-walled carbon nanotubes; API = American Petroleum Institute; HTHP = high temperature high pressure; LTLP = low temperature low pressure.