Effect of Nanoparticles on Rheological Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluid

Nano-water-based drilling fluids (NWBDFs) are prepared using nano-copper oxide (CuO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as modification materials. The effects of the temperature and concentration of the nanoparticles (NPs) on the rheological properties are studied using a rotational rheometer and viscometer. Also, the influence of two NPs on the filtration properties is studied using a low-pressure and low-temperature filtration apparatus, as well as a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is found that MWCNTs with a concentration of <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mn>0.05</mn><mo> </mo><mi>w</mi><mo>/</mo><mi>v</mi><mo>%</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> have the most obvious influence on the NWBDFs, which improve the stability of the gel structure against temperature and also decrease the filtration rate. Finally, a theoretical model predicating the yield point (<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>YP</mi></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>) and the plastic viscosity (PV) as a function of the temperature considering the influence of the NPs is developed based on DLVO theory.