GRC Transactions, Vol.

43, 2019

Impact of Foaming Agent on the Performance of Colloidal

Gas Aphron Drilling Fluid for Geothermal Drilling

Wenxi Zhu1, Xiuhua Zheng1,*, Guomin Li1 and Kang Liu1

1
Key Laboratory on Deep Geodrilling Technology of the Ministry of Land and Resourc-e
s, National-level International S&T Cooperation Base of Geodrilling Equipment an-d Too
ls, School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beiji-ng, 1000
83, P.R. China. xiuhuazh@cugb.edu.cn, zhuwenxidida@163.com
1
* Corresponding author: Xiuhua Zheng, xiuhuazh@cugb.edu.cn

Keywords
foaming agents; Colloidal Gas Aphron (CGA) drilling fluids; geothermal drilling; rheological;
fluid loss

ABSTRACT
Colloidal Gas Aphron(CGA) drilling fluid with micro-bubbles (diameter from 10 to 100μm) is
generated by surfactant and polymer. It has been successfully applied in drilling depleted oil and
gas formations recently. In view of the good plugging performance and near-balance drilling
characteristics of CGA drilling fluid, its introduction into geothermal drilling can be helpful to
improve drilling efficiency and protect geothermal reservoirs. In this paper, the anionic
surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) and the zwitterionic surfactant cocamidopropyl
betaine (CAB) were used as foaming agents and Xanthan gum (XG) was used as viscosifier. The
effects of foaming agents on the performance of CGA drilling fluid, including stability, rheology
and filtration loss, were studied. The analysis showed that: 1) The half-life and foaming volume
of CGA fluid with SDS are generally higher than CAB; 2) CGA drilling fluid prepared with SDS
or CAB has obvious shear thinning property. The low shear rate viscosity (LSRV) of CGA
drilling fluid prepared with CAB is generally higher than SDS; 3) Herschel-Bulkley model is the
best model to describe the rheological behavior of CGA drilling fluid; 4) The filtration loss of
CGA drilling fluid prepared with different amounts of SDS and CAB is not much different, and
the API fluid loss in 30min is within 12-15mL.

1. Introduction
Colloidal Gas Aphron drilling fluids (CGA drilling fluids), which include micro-bubbles
(diameter from 10 to 100μm) in a based fluid, have been successfully employed in drilling
depleted oil and gas formations, MacPhail et al, (2008), Ivan CD et al, (2001). CGA drilling
fluids require no additional equipment and aphrons in CGA fluids will bridging in the front of
the porous media, reduces the formation damage and fluid invasion into the formation,
Khamehchi E et al, (2016). Geothermal drilling often encounters fractured, high permeability
 Zhu et al.

formation. And the pressure of formation is not high, which usually causes serious drilling fluid
loss. CGA drilling fluid has good plugging effect and can be used in near-balance drilling by
adjusting fluid density. Introducing CGA drilling fluids into geothermal drilling will improve
drilling efficiency, reduce fluid loss, protect geothermal reservoirs, and effectively reduce
exploration and development costs.
“Aphrons” were first proposed by Sebba and the structure of aphrons was shown Figure 1,
Growcock F B et al, (2007). As described by Sebba, aphrons are composed of one gas core, a tri-
layer film which is composed of an inner surfactant film enveloped by a viscous water lamella,
which is overlaid with a surfactant bilayer that provides rigidity and low permeability to the
whole structure, Mohsen Pasdar et al, (2018).

Figure 1. Structure of aphrons, Growcock F B et al, (2007)

Aphrons in CGA drilling fluids are generated by high speed agitation (5,000-10,000rpm) of the
foaming agent and polymer in based fluid. Studies have shown that the type and amounts of
surfactants have an effect on the particle size and stability of aphrons. Sodium dodecyl sulfate
(SDS) was the first surfactant used as an anionic surfactant by previous researchers that was
successful in generating aphrons. Other surfactants, such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide
(CTAB), hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB), Tween 80, plant-based saponin et al,
are also used to generate aphrons, Yan YL et al, (2005), Kuru E et al, (2008), Arabloo M et al,
(2013), Tabzar A et al, (2015). The effect of various concentrations (from 0.5g/350cm3 to
1.25g/350cm3) of polymer (XG) and surfactant (SDS) on the rheological behavior and filtration
properties of CGA drilling fluids was studied in 2012, Nareh M A et al, (2012). Different
concentrations of polymer and surfactant on the aphrons size and viscoplastic modeling of CGA
drilling fluids at 25-45℃ was studied in 2014, Arabloo M et al, (2014). In 2015, two natural
foaming agents from roots of Seidlitzia Rosmarinus and leaves of Henna trees was used to
generate CGA fluid, Ahmadi M A et al, (2015). In 2016, the filtration loss control of CGA fluid
with Nano particles was studied which concerns more on the micro-scale analysis in fractured
porous media, Tabzar A et al, (2016).
There have been many experimental studies on the properties of CGA fluids. However, most
studies are about the stability of CGA fluids and the microscopic particle size of aphrons. Using
 Zhu et al.

CGA fluids as drilling fluids for geothermal drilling, the effects of foaming agents type and
dosage on the properties of CGA drilling fluids, including stability, rheology and filtration loss
are still needed to be studied. In this paper, the effects of three dosages (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%)
of two types of foaming agents (SDS and CAB) on the stability, rheology and filtration
properties of CGA drilling fluids were investigated.

2. Experimental Procedure
2.1 Materials
The agents used in this paper are shown in Table 1. Two types of foaming agents were used for
investigation of the effect of foaming agents type on the performance of CGA based drilling
fluids: the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) and the zwitterionic surfactant
cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB).
Xanthan gum polymer (XG) and bentonite were used as a viscosifier as well as a stabilizer. Both
of them play an important role in fluid loss control. Compared to CMC or starch, XG is the most
effective viscosifier and foam stabilizer. Study shows that the optimal addition of XG for CGA
drilling fluids was 6g/L, Shi S et al, (2016). Na2CO3 and NaOH was added into the based fluid as
hardness buffer agent and pH buffer agent.

Table 1. Experimental materials

No. Reagent Functions Content Provider company

Shandong Usolf
1 CAB Aphronizer 98%
Chemical Co., Ltd

Shandong Usolf
2 SDS Aphronizer 98.5%
Chemical Co., Ltd

Viscosifier and fluid Shandong Usolf

3 XG -
control Chemical Co., Ltd

Beijing Chemical
4 Na2CO3 hardness buffer ≥99.8%(AR)
Works

Beijing Chemical
5 NaOH pH buffer ≥96.0%(AR)
Works

Viscosifier and fluid loss Weifang Boda

6 Bentonite -
control Bentonite Co., Ltd

2.2 Fluid stability experiments

Stability is the most important property of aphrons. In most studies, the stability of foam fluid
was usually characterized by half-life (T1/2), i.e., the time taken for half of the initial volume to
 Zhu et al.

become a clear liquid, Molaei A et al, (2015). The 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% dosage of foaming
agents were added into 100mL water and mixing for 120s at 10,000 rpm using WT-2000C type
high speed mixer. From the time of pouring into the cylinder, the time for precipitation of 50 mL
of clean water was recorded. At the same time, the foam volume (V/mL) was recorded as a
measure of foaming ability.

2.3 Preparation of CGA drilling fluids

Rotating the fluid at a speed greater than 4,000rpm is a method for generating the aphrons which
was described by Bjorndalen N et al, (2008). The base fluid was pre-hydration treated by mixing
water, 3% bentonite, 0.2% Na2CO3 and 0.1% NaOH using low speed mixer for 16 hours. Then
adding 0.6% XG into 350 mL base fluid and agitated for 20 min at 8,000 rpm using WT-2000C
type high speed mixer. Polymers should be added slowly to ensure complete mixing and avoid
forming viscosified agglomerates. Finally foaming agents SDS/CAB were added into the based
fluid prepared above, then mixing for 120 s at the speed of 10,000 rpm. In this way, the based
fluid was aphronized by foaming agents.

2.4 Rheological characterization of CGA drilling fluids

The low shear rate viscosity (LSRV) of CGA drilling fluids was tested using Brookfield DV-2
viscometer under the rotational speed in range of 0.3 rpm to 100 rpm and the viscosity was
recorded. The relationship between shear stress and shear rate of CGA drilling fluids was tested
using six-speed viscometer. The measurements of fluids were recorded at the speed of 3r/min,
6r/min, 100r/min, 200r/min, 300r/min, 600r/min.
According to the above steps, the rheological properties of the CGA drilling fluids were tested.
The experimental data is then fitted to three rheological models. The Power Law model and the
Bingham model are the most common tow-parameter models developed to describe the
rheological behavior of the drilling fluids. And the Herschel-Bulkley model is a three-parameter
model, Qi P et al, (2013), Jain R et al, (2016).
The Bingham model is:

τ = τ 0 + µ pγ (1)

Where τ, τ0, µp and γ are shear stress, yield point, plastic viscosity and shear rate.
The Power law model is:

τ = Kγ n (2)

Where τ, γ, K and n are shear stress, shear rate, consistency index and flow behavior index.
The Herschel-Bulkley model is:

τ = τ 0 + Kγ n (3)

Where τ, τ0, γ, K and n are shear stress, yield point, shear rate, consistency index and flow
behavior index.
 Zhu et al.

2.5 Filtration of CGA drilling fluids

Fluid loss and mud cake quality are one of the important properties of drilling fluids and fluid
loss should be as low as possible. Under the pressure difference, free water in drilling fluid enters
the formation during the drilling process, and the solid particles form a mud cake on the well
wall. A thin, dense mud cake helps to slow down a further invasion of drilling fluid into the
formation. The filtration experiments of CGA drilling fluids were carried out by API filtration
tests under 100psi(0.69MPa) pressure and room temperature, using SD-3 type medium pressure
filter. In this trial, the fluid loss of CGA drilling fluids in 7.5 minutes was recorded, multiply the
fluid loss by 2 is the amount of fluid loss within 30 minutes.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Fluid stability
Evaluation of foaming agents at room temperature was carried out according to the method
described in 2.2. The results are shown in Table 2 and Figure 2. The experimental results show
that the half-life of SDS is higher than that of CAB. At room temperature, the half-life of 0.5%
SDS and 0.5% CAB was the highest, which are 390s and 382s, respectively. The foam volume of
SDS is higher than that of the CAB. As the amount of SDS increases, the foaming volume
increases to a maximum of 620mL.

Table 2. Half-life and foam volume of foaming agents

Foaming
Dosage(%) Half-life(s) Volume(mL)
agent

0.25 385 570

SDS 0.50 390 600
0.75 382 620
0.25 372 620
CAB 0.50 382 570
0.75 368 570
 Zhu et al.

Figure 2. Half-life and foam volume of foaming agents.

3.2 Rheological characterization of CGA drilling fluids

3.2.1 Low Shear Rate Viscosity (LSRV)
In this study, the Brookfield viscometer was used to measure the viscosity at 18 rotations
between 0.3-100 rpm of the CGA drilling fluid. The relationship between the viscosity and
rotational speed was obtained, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. The low shear viscosity
(LSRV) of the drilling fluid is characterized by the viscosity of 0.3 rpm.
The results show that CGA drilling fluids prepared with SDS and CAB have significant shear
thinning behavior. The viscosity decreases by more than 91% during the increase of the
rotational speed from 0.3 rpm to 6 rpm at room temperature. Among them, the viscosity of CGA
drilling fluid prepared with 0.25%CAB decreased the fastest, from 110000 mPa·s to 8818 mPa·s,
which shows the most obvious shear thinning.
The type and addition of foaming agent also has an effect on the low shear rate viscosity of the
CGA drilling fluid. As the amount of SDS increases, the value of low shear rate viscosity
increases. The LSRV of SDS with an addition of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75% is 113,000 mPa·s,
117,000 mPa·s, and 125,000 mPa·s, respectively. The low shear rate viscosity (LSRV) of CGA
drilling fluid prepared with CAB is generally higher than the SDS. And CGA fluid with 0.5%
CAB has a maximum low shear rate viscosity of 126,000 mPa·s.
 Zhu et al.

Figure 3. Rotational speed-Viscosity figure of SDS.

Figure 4. Rotational speed-Viscosity figure of CAB.

3.2.2 Rheological Model

The experimental data of shear rate and shear stress of CGA drilling fluids was tested by six-
speed viscometer. Table 3 shows the parameter results in fitting the data for three rheological
models for SDS and CAB.
A high value of R2 shows a good fit of the rheological model. According to the results, Bingham
model has a poor application in fitting the rheological behavior of CGA drilling fluid. The values
of R2 of Bingham model are below 0.90. The power law model and Herschel-Bulkley model fit
well with CGA drilling fluid prepared with SDS or CAB. The Herschel-Bulkley model has the
highest R2 values, which are all greater than 0.99. Results show that these two models have a
good prediction of the rheological properties of CGA drilling fluids and Herschel-Bulkley model
has a better fitness than the Power law model due to its higher value of R2.
 Zhu et al.

Table 3. Parameter results in fitting three rheological models for CGA drilling fluid prepared with SDS/CAB.
Model 0.25%SDS 0.50%SDS 0.75%SDS 0.25%CAB 0.50%CAB 0.75%CAB

τ0=20.4762 τ0=20.0436 τ0=22.3532 τ0=18.9163 τ0=20.1039 τ0=20.7874

Bingham
μp=0.0329 μp=0.0344 μp=0.0384 μp=0.0248 μp=0.0335 μp=0.0370
model
R2=0.8238 R2=0.8321 R2=0.8384 R2=0.7967 R2=0.8459 R2=0.8290

K=9.4540 K=8.8999 K=9.9790 K=9.7519 K=9.1639 K=9.0177

Power law
n=0.2373 n=0.2488 n=0.2477 n=0.2045 n=0.2418 n=0.2554
model
R2=0.9993 R2=0.9991 R2=0.9986 R2=0.9940 R2=0.9977 R2=0.9992

τ0=1.7603 τ0=2.1954 τ0=3.1877 τ0=1.2781 τ0=5.2599 τ0=0.4505

Herschel - K=8.149 K=7.3259 K=7.7037 K=8.7301 K=5.4689 K=8.6937
Bulkley
model n=0.2540 n=0.2711 n=0.2776 n=0.2163 n=0.3021 n=0.2596

R2=0.99946 R2=0.99931 R2=0.99897 R2=0.99411 R2=0.99925 R2=0.99923

3.3 Filtration of CGA drilling fluids

Under the pressure difference, the free water of drilling fluids enters the formation and the solid
particles form a mud cake on the well wall. A low fluid loss and a dense mud cake is beneficial
to reduce the fluid invasion to formations. The API fluid loss within 30min of CGA drilling fluid
prepared with different types and addition of foaming agent is shown in Figure 5. At room
temperature, the addition of two foaming agents has small effect on the filtration loss and the
fluid loss is between 12-15mL. The drilling fluid with 0.25% CAB has the lowest filtration loss,
which is 12mL. While the 0.75% SDS has the largest fluid loss, which is 15mL.

Figure 5. Filtration loss of CGA drilling fluids in 30min.

 Zhu et al.

4. Conclusion
Based on the above research, the conclusions can be drawn as follows:
1) The half-life and foaming volume of CGA fluid with SDS are generally higher than CAB. In
evaluating the performance of the foaming agents, we value its stability (i.e., half-life), compared
to the foaming volume. Therefore, from the perspective of stability, SDS is better than CAB, and
0.75% SDS and 0.5% CAB have the highest stability.
2) CGA drilling fluid prepared with SDS or CAB has obvious shear thinning property. The
viscosity decreases by more than 91% during the increase of the rotational speed from 0.3 rpm to
6 rpm. The low shear rate viscosity (LSRV) of CGA drilling fluid prepared with CAB is
generally higher than the SDS.
3) The Bingham model has a poor application in fitting the rheological behavior of CGA drilling
fluid. Higher R2 values of the Herschel-Bulkley model and the Power law model shows a good
prediction of the rheological properties of CGA drilling fluid. And Herschel-Bulkley model is
the best model to describe the rheological behavior of CGA drilling fluid.
4) The filtration loss of CGA drilling fluid prepared with different amounts of SDS and CAB is
not much different, and the API fluid loss in 30mins is within 12-15mL.

Acknowledgement

The study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China projects of
"Properties of Colloid Gas Aphron Drilling Fluid and Its Mechanism of Loss and Formation
Protection for High Temperature Geothermal Reservoir", (Code: 41872184) and the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41572361) of "Design and Preparation of Green
Environmental Friendly of Self-degradable Foamed Temporary Cementitious Sealing Materials
for Geothermal Reservoir ".

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