Can polyacrylamide/clay nanocomposite be used as drilling fluid additive?

The troublesome shale formations need special formulation of drilling fluids having high shale inhibition characteristics to mitigate wellbore instability problems. In the present study, polyacrylamide/clay nanocomposite (PANC) was synthesized and used as drilling fluid additive.

How is polyacrylamide/clay composite synthesized?

Polyacrylamide/clay composite was synthesized by free radical polymerization. Synthesized composite had good filtration control properties in drilling mud. High shale recovery was obtained with synthesized composite.

Does synthesized composite have good filtration control properties in drilling mud?

Synthesized composite had good filtration control properties in drilling mud. High shale recovery was obtained with synthesized composite. The troublesome shale formations need special formulation of drilling fluids having high shale inhibition characteristics to mitigate wellbore instability problems.

Why is polyacrylamide used in wellbore encapsulation?

Many industries use polyacrylamide to mitigate wellbore instability problems arising due to swelling and dispersion of shale and cuttings inside the wellbore because of its unique property of shale encapsulation.

Can montmorillonite be dispersed in polyacrylamide polymer?

Depending on the surface modification of the clay layers, montmorillonite can be dispersed in a polymer matrix to form polymer–clay nanocomposites. The efficiently dispersed clay in polyacrylamide polymer can significantly improve the polymer’s physical and mechanical properties. This can be achieved by mixing, stirring, and sonication.

How does polymer matrix affect mud properties?

The mud properties were enhanced up to a critical ratio due to the dispersion of nanoparticles into the polymer matrix resulting in the exfoliated nanostructure of the nanocomposite. Moreover, the strong synergistic effects between polymer matrix and silicate layers has shown a positive effect on the mud properties. Fig. 5.