Research Article / Review Article FUPRE JOURNAL 6(3): 72-79 (2022)

FUPRE Journal
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ISSN: 2579-1184(Print) Scientific and Industrial Research ISSN: 2578-1129 (Online)

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Electrical Stability Trend of Invert Oil Based Mud Pre-Mix Formulated with Synthetic Oil
and Palm Kernel Oil Blends
Ohimor, E. O.1,* , Ayodele A. O2
1,2
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

This work is aimed at determining the Electrical Stability (ES) of various oil-
Received: 16/03/2022 based mud (OBM) pre-mix formulated with 100% synthetic base oil (SBO),
Accepted: 25/05/2022
100% crude palm kernel oil (CPKO), 100% refined palm kernel oil (RPKO),
blends of SBO & CKPO, and finally blends of SBO & RPKO. An oil-based
mud pre-mix is a preliminary mud, prepared in the blending plant or factory,
Keywords without the addition of weighting materials, such as barite and some other
additives. The OBM pre-mix is conveyed to the rig or drilling site where
Wellbore, Cuttings,
weighting material and other additives are incorporated and blended prior to
Drilling Fluid, being used for the drilling operation. The electrical stability test, usually
Emulsifier, carried out at a temperature of 49°C, is a very key test for determining
Viscosifier whether an OBM pre-mix is good or not. The higher the ES, the better the
OBM pre-mix. Thus, the ES tests were carried out on the various OBM pre-
mix and the results showed that the OBM pre-mix formulated with SBO &
CPKO blends had relatively higher ES values than those formulated with
SBO & RPKO blends. Also worthy of note, is the fact that the OBM pre-mix
formulated with 40% SBO & 60% CPKO blend gave the highest ES reading
of 954 volts. A possible reason why the CPKO blends has better ES values
than the RPKO blends is the presence of high saturation of fatty acid, whereas
the RPKO has the fatty acids removed in the process of refining. The study
therefore implies that the 40% SBO & 60% CPKO blend could be a possible
substitute for the conventional 100% SBO in the preparation or formulation
of an environmentally friendly OBM pre-mix.

filtered off and the fluid recirculated (Caenn,

1. Introduction 2018). Until the mid-1800s to late 1920s, the
fluid used was just dirt and water.
Oilwell drilling, from the mid-1800s to 1929, Improvements in the muds used then
has evolved from the dry hole cable tool occurred by using barite for weight control
percussion drilling, where clean water was and bentonite for hole cleaning and
used to sweep the cuttings out of the wellbore suspension (Caenn, 2018).
into the hydraulic rotary drilling, where In other to solve many other drilling issues
specially formulated drilling fluids are used other than weight control, hole cleaning and
for transporting cuttings to the surface, suspension, Research and Development
*Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]
DIO
©Scientific Information, Documentation and Publishing Office at FUPRE Journal
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efforts were made by the operators and the appropriate fluid for a drilling operation,
service companies in coming up with namely; cost, technical performance, and
specialty drilling fluids, which could solve environmental impact.
issues, such as viscosity control, wall Drilling fluid consists of liquids and solids.
building and fluid loss control. Thus, a The solid content of the drilling fluid is
number of independent mud companies, needed to properly control the mud properties
some fairly large, were established during such as rheology, density and filter cake
this period, resulting in the developments of building properties. The water-based muds
specialty or proprietary drilling fluids (Caenn, are prepared using either fresh water,
2018). Consequently, mud technology, seawater, naturally occurring brines, or
testing, products and systems improved prepared brines. However, oil-based muds
dramatically. Drilling fluids also referred to are prepared, using petroleum refined
as drilling mud in cases where the fluid products such as diesel or mineral oil as their
contains water, oil or both were now being major component, while synthetic oil-based
provided as specialty products by the mud muds are prepared using synthetic oils, such
companies. There are also, drilling fluids, in as linear alpha olefins (LAO) and isomerized
which the fluid is an array of gases, or liquids olefins (IO), made to have desired property
other than water. Thus, all drilling muds are specifications than traditional petroleum-
drilling fluids, but not all drilling fluids are based oils. In general, water-based muds are
drilling mud. The drilling mud can take the good for the less demanding, drilling of
following forms; synthetic oil-based mud, conventional vertical wells at medium depths,
oil-based mud, water-based mud. Drilling whereas oil-based muds are much better for
fluids can be used to clean well bore, take out greater depths or in directional or horizontal
drill cuttings from wells, hold cuttings in drilling, which places greater stress on the
suspension, contain formation pressure, drilling equipment. Synthetic-based muds
minimize friction between the drill string and were developed in response to environmental
sides of the well, maintain the stability of the concerns over oil-based muds, though all
well bore, provide sufficient formation drilling muds are highly regulated in their
evaluation, cool and lubricate the drilling composition, and in some cases specific
tools. A drilling fluid is formulated to achieve combinations are banned from use in certain
certain rheological properties such as: environments (Encyclopedia Britannica,
Electrical stability, Plastic Viscosity, Gel 2017).
strength, Filtrate, Mud density. Yield point In a bid to address environmental concern
etc. The successful drilling of an oil and gas and reduce cost, the idea of incorporating a
well depends to a large extent on the biodegradable vegetable oil into the drilling
properties of the drilling fluids used during fluid formulation is being considered by
the drilling operation. Therefore, the researchers. Vegetable oils are known to be
selection of an appropriate fluid and the potential environmentally friendly drilling
maintenance of the essential properties fluid component but have not received much
during drilling generally influence the rate of attention because of high instability issues
drilling and ensure a successful drilling (Dosunmu et al., 2010). A sustainable
operation. There are three critical factors that environmentally friendly vegetable oil
guide the decision on the selection of an should be stable during usage under different

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operating conditions (Alves et al., 2008). fluid. The Maximum Voltage that the mud
Malaysian palm oil and palm kernel oil, for will sustain across the gap before conducting
instance, have received worldwide approval current is displayed as the Electrical Stability,
for preparation of environmentally friendly in unit of volts (Ingenieur, 2018). The
drilling fluids (Salleh et al., 2005). The composition of the oil-based or synthetic oil-
original Petro-free synthetic base fluid (SBF) based drilling fluids determines the outcome
system consisted of a mixture of five of the Electrical Stability test. Several
homologous fatty acid esters (which are the conditions influence the Electrical Stability
primary constituents of the Malaysian palm of a given drilling fluid such as resistivity of
oil and palm kernel oil), of which the main the continuous phase, conductivity of the
component was 2-ethylhexyldodecanoate, non-continuous phase, properties of
but later developed Petro-free formulations suspended solids, temperature, droplet size,
containing other SBF such as Linear Alpha type of emulsifier used, dielectric properties
Olefins or Poly Alpha Olefins (Neff et al., of the fluid and shear history of the sample
2000) for stability issues. Thus, this paper is (Ingenieur, 2018).
looking at the possibilities of cutting cost, The Synthetic oil-based drilling mud has a
local content value addition, and reducing generic composition in terms of basic
environmental concern through the use of a components but with variations in the
biodegradable vegetable oil alone or blending percentage composition of the components,
it with synthetic oil, in formulating OBM pre- and in the order of adding the components
mix. Hence, the study of the trend in the when preparing the drilling fluid.
Electrical Stability of oil-based drilling fluid Synthetic oil-based mud is composed of the
prepared with Nigeria’s CPKO, RPKO and following:
blends of each with SBO. One of the (i) Oil: Low toxicity linear olefins
oleochemical products that can be obtained and paraffin, which are often
from CPKO are fatty acids esters. CPKO has referred to as synthetics.
a fatty acid saturation level of 81% with the (ii) Water: The ratio of the oil
largest content being lauric acid (Basiron and percentage to the water
Weng, 2004). These fatty acids are widely percentage in the liquid phase of
used in various industries such as tire industry, an oil-based system is called its
cosmetics, plastics, paints, pharmaceuticals, oil/water ratio. Oil-based systems
detergents, and soaps. In addition, fatty acids generally function well with an
are used as raw materials for the production oil/water ratio in the range from
of oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols, fatty 65/35 to 95/5, but the most
amines and fatty esters (Shahidi, 2005). commonly observed range is from
Electrical Stability (ES) of oil-based muds 70/30 to 90/10 (Anon., 2015).
(OBM) or synthetic oil-based mud (SOBM) (iii) Primary and secondary
or their pre-mix is a measure of the emulsion emulsifiers: These are for
stability and its oil wetting capacity. The emulsification of the oil and water
Electrical Stability is determined by applying and contribute to fluid viscosity.
a steadily increasing sinusoidal alternating (iv) Brine: Most conventional oil-
voltage across a pair of parallel flat plate based mud (OBM) systems are
electrodes submerged in the oil base drilling formulated with calcium chloride

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brine, which appears to offer the 2. Materials and Methods

best inhibition properties for most
shales formations (Anon., 2015). 2.1 Materials
The high salinity water phase
The materials used are, 2.5L of Synthetic
helps to prevent shales from
Base Oil, an Electrical Stability Meter,
hydrating, swelling, and
1.5L of Crude Palm kernel Oil, 1.5L of
sloughing into the wellbore.
(v) Lime: Usually incorporated to Refined Palm Kernel Oil, 3L of Distilled
maintain an elevated pH, resist Water, Bentonite, 500g of Organophilic
adverse effects of hydrogen Clay, 500g of Soltex, 500g of Calcium
sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide Chloride, 500g of Calcium Oxide
(CO2) gases, and enhance (Lime), 1L of Primary Emulsifier, 1L of
emulsion stability (Anon., 2015). Secondary Emulsifier, Digital
(vi) Soltex: Organophilic lignitic, Thermometer, Heater (or hot plate), Mud
asphaltic and polymeric materials Mixer, Stop Watch, Weighing Balance
are added to help control HP/HT and a 10ml Graduated Cylinder.
(High pressure/High temperature)
fluid loss. 2.2 Methods
(vii) Bentonite: A specially treated 2.2.1 Preparation of SOBM pre-mix
organophilic material, which There are variations, from one mud company
serves as the primary viscosifier to another, in the percentage composition of
(viii) Barite: A weighting material the components, the order of adding the
which is used to increase system components, as well as the mixing time while
density. preparing the SOBM pre-mix. The order of
(ix) Wetting Agents and Oil mud mixing used in this research is based on a
thinners: The surfactants used for typical composition of oil-based mud used
oil wetting, which can also serve offshore in the UK, with other components,
as thinners. Oil wetting is added in small quantities to deal with specific
important for ensuring that conditions (Offshore Technology Report,
particulate materials remain in 1999). The mixing procedure, with some
suspension. variations in quantities of some of the
In most cases, the synthetic oil-based mud materials in OTO 1999, is for the laboratory
pre-mix, comprising of items (i) to (vii), is preparation of 350ml of drilling mud pre-mix
prepared and tested to have the desired as outlined below:
properties, ES especially. It is then taken to Measure 218.75ml of Synthetic Oil and pour
the rig site, where Barite, Wetting Agents and into a mud cup, place the mud cup in the mud
other materials are added and mixed in the mixer and turn in on to start mixing. Weigh
mud pit prior to being used for the drilling 4g of Organophilic clay, added slowly to the
operations. synthetic oil in mud cup, and allow stirring in
for 5mins, before adding the next
components. Weigh 4g of Bentonite and add
slowly to the content of the mud cup.
Measure 6ml of Primary Emulsifier and add

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to the content of the mud cup. Measure 2ml iii. 80%(175ml) Synthetic Oil +
of Secondary Emulsifier and add to the 20%(43.75ml) CPKO
content of the mud cup. Weigh 6g of Lime
iv. 70%(153.13ml) Synthetic Oil +
and add to the content of the mud cup. Add
30%(65.63ml) CPKO
brine that was prepared by dissolving 21.75g
of Calcium Chloride in 87.5ml of Distilled v. 60%(131.25ml) Synthetic Oil +
water, to the content of the mud cup; allow 40%(87.5ml) CPKO
5mins of stirring before adding the next
vi. 50%(109.38ml) Synthetic Oil +
component. Finally, weigh 4g of Soltex and
50%(109.38ml) CPKO
add to the content of the mud cup and stir for
30mins. Put off the mud mixer and remove vii. 40%(87.5ml) Synthetic Oil +
the mud cup, the SOBM pre-mix is ready for 60%(131.25ml) CPKO
ES test and any other parameters as may be
viii. 30%(65.63ml) Synthetic Oil +
required. The SOBM pre-mix so formulated
70%(153.13ml) CPKO
has an oil/water (OWR) ratio of 70/30 and a
mud weight in the range of 9.1 – 9.2 ppg. ix. 20%(43.75ml) Synthetic Oil +
2.2.2 Electrical stability test 80%(175ml) CPKO
Ensure that the ES meter is properly
x. 10%(21.86ml) Synthetic Oil +
calibrated before use. Place the mud cup on a
90%(196.86ml) CPKO
hot plate and heat the mud pre-mix to a
temperature of 490C. Remove the cup from xi. 100%(218.75ml) CPKO
the heater, and immediately insert the ES
Similarly, the Synthetic Oil and Refined Palm
Probe into the mud pre-mix, pressed the start
Kernel Oil (RPKO) blends are as shown
button of the ES-meter, the voltage will raise
below;
to a peak value and remain constant. Record
i. 100%(218.75ml) Synthetic Oil
that value as the first ES reading. Stir the mud
pre-mix again and repeat the test to obtain the ii. 90%(196.86ml) Synthetic Oil +
second ES reading and repeat the process for 10%(21.86ml) RPKO
the third ES reading. The average of the three
iii. 80%(175ml) Synthetic Oil +
ES readings is then recorded as the ES value
20%(43.75ml) RPKO
of the SOBM pre-mix at 490C.
The above ES test procedure was carried out, iv. 70%(153.13ml) Synthetic Oil +
using 100% synthetic base oil (SBO), 100% 30%(65.63ml) RPKO
crude palm kernel oil (CPKO), 100% refined
v. 60%(131.25ml) Synthetic Oil +
palm kernel oil (RPKO), blends of SBO &
40%(87.5ml) RPKO
CKPO, and finally blends of SBO & RPKO.
Thus, the Synthetic Oil and Crude Palm vi. 50%(109.38ml) Synthetic Oil +
Kernel Oil (CPKO) blends are as shown 50%(109.38ml) RPKO
below;
vii. 40%(87.5ml) Synthetic Oil +
i. 100%(218.75ml) Synthetic Oil
60%(131.25ml) RPKO
ii. 90%(196.86ml) Synthetic Oil +
viii. 30%(65.63ml) Synthetic Oil +
10%(21.86ml) CPKO
70%(153.13ml) RPKO

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ix. 20%(43.75ml) Synthetic Oil + 90%CPKO, and finally dropping to about

80%(175ml) RPKO 760 volts at 100%CPKO (i.e. 0%SBO).
x. 10%(21.86ml) Synthetic Oil + From the plot of ES versus %CPKO above, it
90%(196.86ml) RPKO
could be said that SOBM pre-mix formulated
xi. 100%(218.75ml) RPKO using 40%SBO/60%CPKO blend, resulted in
a relatively high ES of 954 volts, as compared
with the SOBM pre-mix formulated with
3. Results and Discussion
100%SBO and 100%CPKO, which had ES of
The results of the ES tests carried out on
SOBM pre-mix formulated with 100% 200 volts and 760 volts respectively.
synthetic base oil (SBO), 100% crude palm
600
kernel oil (CPKO), 100% refined palm kernel
500
oil (RPKO), blends of SBO & CKPO, and
400

ES (VOLTS)
blends of SBO & RPKO are shown below in
Fig.s 1, 2 and 3 below. 300

The plot of ES versus % CPKO and ES 200

versus % RPKO are shown in Fig. 1 and 2 100
respectively. 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
RPKO (%)
1200
1000
ES (VOLTS)

800
Figure 2: Plot of ES (volts) versus
600
400 RPKO (%)
200 From the plot of ES (volts) versus RPKO (%)
0
in Fig. 2 above, the ES reading initially
0 50 100
CPKO (%) dropped from 200 volts for the 100%SBO to
about 120 volts for the 90%SBO/10%RPKO.
Figure 1: Plot of ES (volts) versus
Thereafter, there was a proportional increase
CPKO (%)
in ES with increase in %RPKO in the oil
From the plot of ES (volts) versus CPKO (%)
blend, from 120 volts for the 10%RPKO to
in Fig. 1 above, the ES reading increases with
510 volts at 50%RPKO. The variation
increase in the %CPKO in the oil blend, from
between ES and %RPKO was no longer
200 volts at 0% CPKO (i.e. 100% SBO) to
proportional between 50%RPKO and
954 volts at 60%CPKO before drastically
100%RPKO. However, a peak ES value of
dropping to as low as 350 volts at 80%CPKO,
550 volts was attained at 80%RPKO.
then rising again to about 900 volts at
From the plot in Fig. 2, of ES versus %RPKO,

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it could be said that SOBM pre-mix

formulated using 20%SBO/80%RPKO blend,
resulted in a relatively high ES of 550 volts
as compared with the SOBM pre-mix
formulated with 100%SBO and 100%RPKO,
which had ES of 200 volts and 510 volts
respectively.
1200

1000

800
ES (VOLTS)

600

400

200

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
BLEND WITH CPKO CPKO and RPKO (%)
BLEND WITH RPKO

Figure 3: Plot of ES (volts) versus and SBO instead of SBO only. This may be
blends of CPKO and RPKO with as a result of the high percentage composition
synthetic oil of fatty acids in the CPKO, which has been
From the plot of ES (volts) versus CPKO (%) reduced drastically in the RPKO in the
and RPKO (%) in Fig. 3 above, it could be process of refining. The estimated Electrical
observed that the blends of CPKO & SBO Stability for SOBM of mud weight 9 – 10 ppg
have have higher ES values than the blends and OWR 65/35 -75/25 is 200-300 volts
of RPKO & SBO. The only exception is (Lyons, 1996), whereas the SOBM pre-mix
where the ES of RPKO&SBO blends turned formulated using 40%SBO/60%CPKO blend
out to be higher than the ES of CPKO&SBO resulted in an ES reading of 954 volts; which
blends within the range of 76% to 84% for is quite high. Apart from the ES, there is need
both CPKO and RPKO. to compare the rheological and filtration
Conclusion properties of the SOBM pre-mix formulated
This study shows that an appreciable increase with 100%SBO, 100%CPKO and
in the ES value of OBM pre-mix can be 40%SBO/60%CPKO blend. That way a well-
achieved through the use of a blend of CPKO informed decision can be made as to
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incorporate CKPO in the SOBM formulation [8] Neff, J. M., McKelvie, S. and Ayers, R.,
(2000). ‘Environmental Impacts of
as a local content value addition, and in so
Synthetic Based Drilling Fluids’, U.S.
doing, the cost of the drilling mud will be Department of the interior minerals
reduced. managment service, p. 141.

[9] Offshore Technology Report, (1999).

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