Production of drilling mud from local clays (Afuze and Maiduguri Clays).

Abstract

This research is aimed at testing the suitability of Nigeria montmorillonitic clays for bentonite well as finds a way of upgrading the clay if there are some properties that are lacking . American petroleum institution (API) recommended practice 13 A was followed in the test procedure to determine the plastics viscosity, fluid loss, residue weight i.e percentage greater than 75 micrometer and moisture content of the clay sample . It was discovered that of these four properties , only moisture content was in the rage of the required specification. Plastics viscosity of the clay were very low and fluid losses were excessively high. Also , residue weight , I.e percentage greater than 75 micrometer was also greater than the required specification. Attempt was made to upgrade the clays in terms of adding some biopolymers. The research was successful in that at the end , plastics viscosity and fluid loss were adjusted to meet the API specification as shown in samples A6 and B6 in table 7. The samples were used to prepare drilling mud.