SPE

SPE 21167

Palm Oil Derivative as a Based Fluid in Formulating Oil Based Drilling Mud
by Abu Azam M. Yassin* and Azmi Kamis* - UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

* SPE members

CopyrIght 19110, Society of Pefroleum Englneens

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ABSTRAcr

The usage of oil especially diesel oil as proven advantages over water-based
the continuous phase of drilling mud is drilling fluids in mayy difficult
2
Widespread when drilling through sensitiVE drilling situations. ' Oil based
producing formation and troublesome shale drilling fluids have many favourable
zone. characteristics, including (1) excellent
thermal stability when deep, high
Diesel oil is harmful to the environment temperature wells are drilled; (2)
- particularly marine environment in inherent protection against acid gased
offshore applications due to extensive and corrosion caused by the presence of
legislation now exist in many countries the continuous oil phase and the alka-
to regulate this form of oil pollution. linity control reagent; (3) capability
The use of oil, derivative could be of drilling water soluble formations
considered as an alternative based fluid with little or no hole washout problems;
which is harmless to the environment. (4) Improved lubricity, which acids in
Test have been undertaken to evaluate the drilling deviated holes and reduces
characteristics of palm oil derivative as ~ccurences of 'stuck pipe' problems; (5)
the based fluid in the oil based mud and protection of producing formations from
its toxicity effect on marine life and water intrusion thereby eliminating clay
results obtained showed that palm oil swelling, which could result in reduced
derivative is a suitable alternative to permeability of the pay zone; and (6)
fromulate oil based drilling mud with the ability to drill thick, water sensitive
necessary rheological properties, shale sections with relative ease, thus
compatibility with existing mud additives providing for gauge-hole drilling.
and non toxic to the marine life.
The primary concern when conventional,
INTRODUcrION diesel-based oil-mud systems are used
is their potential for adverse environ-
In recent years, there has been a marked mental impact. This is especially
increase in the use of oil-based drilling true during dirlling in such ecological-
fluids. The increased usage of these ly sensitive locations as offshore. In
fluids has occured as a result of their Malaysia, current environmental regula-
 PAlM. On. DERIVATIVE AS ABASED FIDID IN
2 ~ On. BASED DRJLL]lil; MUD
tions prohibit discharge to the sea of
oil-based muds or any oil-mud cutt~ngs
that will cause marine pollution. Such
environmental regulations have forced the
use of expensive cutting washers and
special oil-mud-cuttings handling equip-
ment. In most cases where conventional,
diesel-based-oil-mud systems are used,
the drill cuttings must be collected and
transported to shore for proper disposal.
Among the many components that make up a
whole oil mud, tha based fluid, No. 2
diesel oil, is the component of major
concern because of the known toxic effect
of diesel on marine and freshwater orga-
nisms. So diesel replacement i.e., an
environmentally safe base fluid should
be sought after the crude palm oil or
palm diesel oil could be used as an
alternative to diesel-mud systems. This
paper will discussed the technical
feasibility using crude palm oil as a base
fluid in oil based mud.
LABORATORY TESTS
In the search for a suitable diesel-
substitute base fluid, we sought an oil
that has the following characteristics;
(1) causes no pollution on the surface
of water, (2) has low toxicity to marine
and freshwater organisms, (3) has a low
aromatic content (especially low polar
and polynuclear aromatics), non-fluores-
cent, (4) has a low viscosity (i.e. <
diesel oil), (5) has an aniline point ~
160°F and flash point> 150°F, (6) is
chemically compatible with current-market
oil-mud additives and (7) is available
at a reasonable price. Palm oil or
-palm diesel oil has all the basic
physical property as stipUlated in the
requirement for a suitable diesel-substi-
tute replacement. Table 1 showed the
property comparisons.
EVALUATION OF THE PROPERTIES
OF OIL BASED MUDS
Oil based muds using various fluids are
formulated and the rheological properties
of the resulting mud are measured. Table
2 showed the comparisons between reholo-
gical properties of various oil based muds
We observed good product compability
during laboratory formulations using
various new based fluids for the oil-based
muds. All component requirements are the
9E 21167
same for the various mud system formu-
lated.
The following general trends are obser-
ved when comparing the properties of
various mud formulated.
a) The plastic viscosity value of palm
diesel oil mud system is generally
20% lower than "that of diesel-oi T-
mud systems.
b) The emulsion stability value of
diesel-oil mud is generally higher
than mineral oils and palm diesel
oil muds.
c) The high temperature/high preas sure
filtrate vol~~e of diesel oil mud
is generally greater than the other
2 systems.
Adjustment of these properties to
specified values requirement is possible
through the usage of oil-mud additives.
TOXICITY STUDY
The hunt for diesel replacement is a
result of the known toxic effect of
diesel on marine and freshwater organisms
To establish the low toxicity credibility
of the diesel replacement an aquatic
toxicology laboratory test is conducted
on the oil-based mud systems. The test
was performed to evaluate the relative
acute toxicity of the water soluble
fraction of diesel and diesel replacement
vs a control. A standard 96-hour acute-
toxicity test was carried out with Siakap
fish (Lates Clarifier) as the test
organism. The tests were conducted
according to U.S. EPA procedure. The
results of the tests are presented
graphically in Fig. 1 which shows precent
survival as a function of time over the
4-day test period.
From the acute toxicity test the 96 hr
1.C50s value of suspended particulate
phase for each type of muds are :
a) Diesel 8.47 ppm
b) Mentor 26 5276 ppm
c) Palm diesel >10,000 ppm
The diesel oil is easily the most toxic
compared to the mineral oil and palm
diesel based fluid is practically non
toxic and able to fulfill the marine
fIE 21167 ABU AZAM. MD YASSIN AND AZMI I<AMIS 3

environment requirements. 2. Nance, W.B. et ali 'A Comparative

Analysis of Drilling Results Obtained
CONCLUSION with Oil Muds vs Water-Base Mud at
high Island Block A - 270' SPE 11357,
1. Palm diesel has potential as an Drilling Conference, New Orleans,
acceptable substitute for diesel oil Feb. 20 - 23, 1983.
in the formulation of oil mud and is
compatible with current market oil- 3. Hinds, A.A. et ali 'Environmental
mu.d additives. Effects of Diesel-Based and Iow-
Toxicity Oil Mud Systems' SPE 11891,
2. Emulsion stability, rheological Offshore Europe Conference, Aberden,
control, and filtration control Sept., 6 - 9, 1983. I
properties are easily maintained in t
the palm diesel oil mud systems. 4. Yassin, A.A.M.Y. et ali 'Utilization I'
of palm oil as an alternative based
3. Palm diesel oil mud is non toxic when fluid in oil based mud' ASEAN Council
compared with diesel for mineral oil- of Petroleum Conference and EXhibitior~.
based muds. Singapore 14 - 16 Nov., 1989. I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5. Exclusive Economic Zone Act, 1984 t
or Malaysia. I
The authors wish to thank Puan Rossinah
for typing this manuscript and PORIM for 6. Bioassay Procedures for the Ocean
supplying the 'palm oil diesel'. Disposal Permit Program, US, EPA
REFERENCES (1978) Sec. F.

1. Holder, B.J. : 'Oil Muds Aids in

Reducing Problems and Cost of North
Sea Platform Development Drilling,
JPT (June 1982).

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