Efficiency of wellbore cleaning for drilling fluid operations
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B., 5323, Nigeria.
2 Production Technology, School of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B., 5323, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Engineering Research Updates, 2026, 09(02), 001-007.
Article DOI: 10.53430/ijeru.2026.9.2.0016
Publication history:
Received on 21 February 2026; revised on 09 April 2026; accepted on 11 April 2026
Abstract:
Drilling fluids are critical to efficient drilling operations, playing roles in wellbore cleaning, cuttings transport, and formation pressure control. While conventional drilling fluids rely on imported bentonite and synthetic additives, there is a growing interest in enhancing local clay-based muds with natural polymers and nanoparticles to improve their performance and sustainability. This study evaluates the efficiency of drilling fluid operations in wellbore cleaning for cuttings transport in local clays to improve it with biopolymers and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Rheological properties, gel strengths, and pressure loss across vertical pipes were assessed under various temperature conditions. Results indicate that composite formulations of natural polymers improve viscosity and cuttings suspension. Incorporating 0.1–0.2 g MWCNTs per liter of mud further reduced pressure drop while enhancing gel strength at elevated temperatures, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional drilling fluids.
Keywords:
Drilling Mud; Local Clay; Nanoparticles; Hydraulics; Rheology; Vertical Pipe
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0