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.

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.

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.

Are nanocomposites a drilling fluid additive?

Hence, nanocomposites have got wide attention as drilling fluid additive for various purposes. Nanoclays are nanoparticles of layered mineral silicates. These are categorized into several classes like montmorillonite, bentonite, kaolinite, hectorite, and halloysite based on their chemical composition and nanoparticle morphology.

Which nanocomposite is used for water based drilling fluid system?

The various grades of the nanocomposite prepared with various clay to monomer ratios (0.05–0.25) during the synthesis of the nanocomposite were used for the development of the water based drilling fluid system. The effect of clay loading during the synthesis is shown on the rheological and filtration properties of the base fluid system (Fig. 5).

Can clay nanoparticles improve thermal stability of polyacrylamide?

The TGA curves of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) and synthesized nanocomposite are given in Fig. 4. The incorporation of clay nanoparticles into the polyacrylamide polymer matrix was found to enhance the thermal stability of the polyacrylamide (Cui et al., 2008).