Effect of amorphous silica produced from pumice, quartzite and diatomite on drilling mud

Drilling mud is one of the most important components of drilling operation. Water based drilling mud is the most commonly used drilling mud type worldwide. Various chemicals and polymers are used as additives in the formulation of the drilling mud to keep the flow properties of the drilling mud at desired levels. The supply of these additives directly or through various processes affects the drilling cost. In recent years, many studies have been carried out to reduce these costs and natural materials (sepiolite, diatomite) are considered as additives. In this study, pumice, quartzite and diatomite and amorphous silica produced by alkali extraction method from these three ores are used in as water-based drilling mud as additives. Within the scope of the study, water-based drilling muds were prepared according to American Petroleum Institute (API) 13-A standard and pumice, quartzite, diatomite and amorphous silica were added into the muds in different concentrations (3-10%). The rheological and filtration properties of the samples were analyzed according to API 13B-1 standard. As a result of the analyzes, it is determined that the amorphous silica added muds provide the API 13B-1 standard in additive ratios of 8-10%. Moreover, it was obtained that it can be used as an alternative additive to additives existing.