This work focuses on the laboratory techniques for developing, assessing, and analyzing innovative water-based drilling fluids containing iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles. The examined nanoparticles have the potential to significantly improve the characteristics of the filter cakes at both low-pressure/low-temperature (LP/LT) and high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) conditions. They also have the ability to maintain optimal rheological properties so that many drilling problems can be mitigated efficiently.

Introduction

Drilling-fluid loss is considered the major source of capital expenditure during drilling operations. Nanoparticles have proved to be more effective in reducing the filtrate losses than conventional fluid-loss reducers. Because they exhibit different adsorption and transportation behavior in different porous media, nanoparticles have been used successfully as stabilizers in emulsions and foams, as rheology modifiers, and as ­fluid-loss additives in surfactant/polymer or ­water-based drilling fluids. Addition of Fe₂O₃ and SiO₂ nanoparticles can improve or at least maintain fluid properties even at high temperatures. This work aims to find the optimal concentration of such nanoparticles.