Enhancing effective viscosity of calcium bentonite for using in drilling mud

Calcium bentonite has little ability of swelling and rapidly settling time, resulted in low viscosity and strong filter fluid loss comparing with sodium bentonite. Hence it is not preferred for use as drilling mud. The undertaken study was based on the activation of Iraqi bentonite by Na2CO3 in order to enhance its effective viscosity for using as drilling mud. Different techniques were used to investigate Iraqi bentonite properties include X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and Particle size distribution. The effective viscosity of bentonite was measured after direct and indirect activation processes (Alkali activation, Heating activation and combined alkali and acid activation). Results show that effective viscosity increased by the effect of activation and the best results of effective viscosity of bentonite was taken from the combined alkali and acid activation processes.