ENHANCING FLUID INVASION MITIGATION IN WATER-BASED DRILLING FLUIDS: THE ROLE OF GRAPHENE OXIDE (GO) ON FILTRATION LOSS AND MUD CAKE FORMATION

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on two critical parameters; filtration loss and mud cake thickness of water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs), essential for maintaining wellbore stability during drilling operations. Experimental results demonstrate that incorporating 0.1 wt.% GO reduces filtrate volume by 16% and increases mud cake thickness by 12.2%. At 0.45 wt.% GO, filtrate loss decreases by 22%, and mud cake thickness increases by 18%. These improvements significantly enhance wellbore stability, especially in shallow wells with narrow pressure windows. By reducing fluid invasion and improving the sealing properties of the mud cake, GO-modified WBDFs offer a cost-effective solution to mitigate common drilling challenges such as lost circulation and wellbore collapse, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and safety. The scalability of GO-modified fluids for commercial drilling projects holds great potential, offering a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fluid systems. This study highlights GO's potential as an additive to improve WBDF performance in real-world drilling scenarios. Future research could explore the optimization of higher GO concentrations and investigate hybrid formulations with other additives to further enhance filtration control and fluid sealing properties.