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INTRODUCTION
The exploration for hydrocarbon in the Niger Delta
region dates back to the early 1950s when the first
oil (hydrocarbon) reserve was discovered at
Oloibiri in the present day Bayelsa State in 1956
(Etu-Efeotor, 1997). Drilling is the process of
creating a passage for the discovered hydrocarbon
to be produced at the surface. It involves the
penetration of the earths crust to several thousand
feet where the hydrocarbons are accumulated in
the reservoir using rotary drilling process. So far,
from the era of cable tool rig to the use of rotary
drilling rigs, a lot of technological advancement
has been put forth on how best drilling operations
can be carried out in the best economical and
environmental way possible. Drilling fluids are
heterogeneous mixture of chemical, water or oil
and clay materials that aid drilling operations.
They are vital in successful well drilling as they
168
Bentonite
Clay
Density, lb/gal
Specific gravity
pH value
Sand content, %
Apparent viscosity, cP
Plastic viscosity, cP
Yield Point, lb/100ft2
Gel Strength (10sec), lb/100ft2
Gel Strength (10min), lb/100ft2
8.80
1.06
10.60
0.30
12.00
7.00
10.00
4.00
8.00
8.60
1.03
5.65
0.45
3.50
2.00
3.00
1.00
2.00
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(2)
Where:
RPM = Viscometer (Rotor) speed
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
2.00
8.70
4.00
8.80
6.00
8.95
8.00
9.10
10.00
9.20
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
10.00
4.50
3.00
3.00
20.00
5.50
3.00
4.00
30.00
7.00
4.00
5.00
40.00
8.50
5.00
7.00
50.00
10.50
6.00
9.00
Table 4. Effect of Soda ash (Na2CO3) and Potato Starch on Ewet-Offot Mud
Clay mud
Sample A
Sample B
Sample C
Sample D
Sample E
2.00
10.00
7.30
5.50
3.00
5.00
3.00
20.00
8.07
6.50
3.00
7.00
4.00
30.00
8.82
8.00
5.00
7.00
4.50
40.00
9.20
9.50
6.00
7.00
5.00
50.00
9.60
11.50
7.00
9.00
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171
172
Fig. 4 Comparison of Bentonites Shear Stress/Shear Rate with Ewet-Offot Mud Samples
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