Experimental study of rheological properties and filtration and thermal conductivity of water-based drilling fluid using SiO2 and Al2O3 nanoparticles

In this research, enhanced WBMs (water-based muds) was prepared by using SiO2 and Al2 O3 nanofluids (size 15-20 nm) in aqueous solution of bentonite and investigated on thermal conductivity, filtration and rheological properties at three temperatures of 27, 50, and 80 °C. Nanofluids were prepared in different concentrations of 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 wt% in base fluid. Experimental data with flow curves for different nano water-based drilling fluid (NWBDF) are fitted to rheological drilling fluid models (Herschel-Bulkley, Bingham plastic, and power law models). According to the results, NWBDF follow Herschel Bulkley s model for rheological behavior. All samples exhibit shear-thinning behavior because the shear rate decreases as the apparent viscosity increases. After adding 1 wt% of SiO2 nanoparticles, the plastic viscosity (PV) increased to 14 ± 0.02 cP. Comparing the permeability of clay cakes according to Darcy s law showed that nanofluids are more impermeable cakes than the base fluid. Thermal conductivity was dramatically improved in the presence of both samples at 80 °C.