DESENVOLVIMENTO DE UM FLUIDO DE PERFURAÇÃO À BASE DE MICROEMULSÃO PARA SER UTILIZADO NA PERFURAÇÃO DE POÇOS DE PETRÓLEO

Abstract

The drilling of oil wells is facing increasing challenges, so there is a growing need for the development of drilling fluids able to satisfy the drilling’s requirements, such as: high capacity to carry gravel to the surface, keep solids suspended when the drilling stops, stabilize the well’s walls, have high lubricity, be environmentally friendly and subject to all physical and chemical treatment. The main objective of this research is to obtain an microemulsion based drilling fluid, which are thermodynamically stable systems, easy to prepare and which facilitate the solubilization of various componentes. The advantage of these fluids is their low production costs and the minimization of ecological damage generated in their production and use. The microemulsion formulated in this work is composed by an aqueous phase (water + glycerin), an oily phase (pine oil) and nonionic surfactants. Microemulsion provides stability to the fluid, keeping it in suspension for longer periods during circulation pauses. Also were used the following additives: slaked lime, organophilized bentonite, HPA, xanthan gum and barite. Experiments were performed with the stable fluid obtained to study some of its physical properties, rheological parameters and filtrate volume. The fluid obtained wes adjusted according to the Herschel-Bulkley model. The results for gel forces, elastic limit, filtrate volume, plastic viscosity and apparent viscosity were within the required by the PETROBRAS N-2604 standard, based on Spec 13 A, from the American Petroleum Institute.