Potential of Nano-Fluid Application in Deep Well Drilling Operation Challenges

Nanotechnology have vast potentials for applications in oil & gas industry. Nanoparticles are ultra-fine in nature, usually larger than an atom cluster but smaller than ordinary micro particles and thus have very high specific surface area with enormous potential interactions with its surroundings. In fact, some nanoparticles exhibit high thermal conductivity ability and affinity to acid gases. These traits and features possessed by nanomaterials intrigues the industry players and makes them zoomed on its potential application in the industry. In this study, the potentials of nanomaterials application in formulating "smart" drilling fluids for deep well drilling operations are discussed. Major deep well drilling fluid related challenges such as narrow drilling tolerance window, HPHT environment, excessive fluid loss and extensive formation damage, wellbore stability issues, differential sticking and low rate of penetration could be addressed through the addition of specific functionally tailored nanoparticles in the fluid formulation. It has been proven at least experimentally in laboratories and some minor field applications that addition of nanomaterials to the formulation would bring positive impacts on the plastic viscosity, yield strength, gel strength, filtrate loss volume and the lubricating effects of drilling fluids, making them feasible to be used in addressing the challenges in deep well drilling operations as discussed in this project paper. Due to the rheological enhancements, nano-fluids application is deemed technically feasible, cost effective and more environmental friendly due to the low concentrations requirement, in formulating smart fluids that could help to combat and address the major and prominent challenges in deep well drilling operations.