(411e) The Effects of Hydrolyzed Lignocellulose Materials on the Performance of Water-Based Drilling Fluids

The utilization of naturally occurring resources for a variety of applications constitutes an essential aspect of sustainable development. Products from lignocellulosic materials have the potential to be used as substitutes for (or complement to) some of the oilfield chemicals. This study reports the effects of hydrolyzed lignocellulose materials on the performance of water-based drilling fluids containing bentonite. The effect of the concentration of the lignocellulose materials on the filtration, rheological, and electrical properties of the drilling formulation was evaluated. Results obtained showed that the acid hydrolyzed lignocellulose can be used as thinner with little or no significant effect on other performance properties of the drilling fluids. The outcome of this work is expected encourage a high-value utilization of agro-based lignocellulosic waste in oilfield operations.