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Article

Study on the Effectiveness of Okra as an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Lubricant for Drilling Fluid

1
Changqing Drilling Company of CCDC, China National Petroleum Corporation, Xi’an 710060, China
2
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Lacklustre Shale Gas Accumulation and Exploitation, Xi’an 710060, China
3
Engineering Research Center of Oil and Gas Field Chemistry, Universities of Shaanxi Provence Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
4
Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Reservoir Protection Technology of Oilfields, Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710065, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Processes 2024, 12(11), 2417; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112417
Submission received: 14 September 2024 / Revised: 24 October 2024 / Accepted: 31 October 2024 / Published: 1 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oil and Gas Drilling Rock Mechanics and Engineering)

Abstract

:
With the gradual improvement and implementation of unconventional wells drilling and environmental regulations, there is an urgent need for high-performance and more environmentally friendly lubricants for water-based drilling fluids (WD). Developing green oilfield chemicals from natural products is a shortcut. In this work, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench/okra has been studied as the lubricant in WD. The green drilling fluid lubricant developed demonstrates excellent lubrication performance, as well as good filtration loss reduction and inhibition of bentonite hydration expansion. The results show that with the addition of 2.5% okra slurry to water-based drilling fluid, the coefficient of friction decreased by 51.68%, the apparent viscosity (AV) increased by 51.32%, the plastic viscosity (PV) increased by 42.99%, and the fluid loss decreased by 39.88%. Moreover, through TGA, SEM, FT-IR, particle distribution tests, and contact angle tests, the lubrication mechanism of okra slurry was discussed. Finally, the economic feasibility of using okra as an environmentally friendly lubricant for drilling fluids was analyzed. This work combines agricultural products with industrial production, which not only solves industrial problems but also enhances the added value of agricultural products, providing a reference for the coordinated development of industry and agriculture.

1. Introduction

In recent times, the field of drilling engineering has progressively advanced toward complex wellbore structures, where directional wells, highly deviated wells, and cluster wells have become increasingly prevalent in petroleum geological drilling operations. During the drilling procedure, these wellbore configurations, which differ from vertical wells, introduce supplementary rotational force and resistance. This results in expedited wear on drilling tools, heightened energy consumption by the drilling apparatus, and possibly severe drilling mishaps, including tool malfunction and pipe sticking occurrences. Using horizontal and highly deviated wells as illustrative examples, the angle of inclination of the wellbore enhances the surface area of contact between the drilling assembly and the wellbore wall, resulting in an increased rotational frictional resistance (torque) of the drill string [1,2]. Moreover, the turbulent flow of fluids inside the wellbore casing creates resistance between the pipe wall and the fluid, as well as between the drill rods and the casing, leading to energy losses that impede drilling operations [3]. Therefore, enhancing the lubricating characteristics of drilling fluids holds significant importance in addressing the aforementioned issues. Based on the phase classification of lubricants, they can primarily be categorized into two types: liquid lubricants and inert solid lubricants. Inert solid lubricants, such as graphite, carbon balls, plastic spheres, glass beads, and nut-shaped particles, are predominantly employed to convert the sliding friction between the drilling string and the wellbore into rolling friction. However, solid lubricants are prone to be removed by solid control equipment due to their size and are susceptible to deformation and breakage under the action of tool extrusion and shearing, thereby compromising their lubrication effectiveness. Despite the potential benefits of reduced sliding friction coefficient offered by the layered structure and self-lubricating properties of graphite, the practical application of graphite-based solid lubricants is somewhat limited due to concerns over health risks associated with issues such as floating and dusting during construction. Liquid lubricants represent the most extensively researched and widely employed lubricants in current practice. Traditional liquid lubricants primarily originate from petroleum derivatives, encompassing asphalt-based, diesel-based, mineral oil-based, vegetable oil-based, sulfonated oil, polyalcohol, poly α-olefin, and synthetic ester lubricants [4]. Although their commendable lubricating properties, these lubricants significantly escalate the disposal costs of drilling waste fluids and may even impose substantial environmental hazards. With increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the usage of conventional lubricants such as asphalt lubricants, diesel-based lubricants, and mineral oil-based lubricants has been declining year by year, highlighting the growing importance of environmentally friendly lubricants. Therefore, the enhancement of environmentally friendly drilling fluid lubricants has become a trend in the field [5,6,7]. R Ikram et al. [8] explored the potential applications of diverse bio-wastes as additives for WD. Additionally, thorough rheological evaluations and filtration tests were performed on these water-based drilling fluids to assess the influence of the waste additives on the drilling fluids’ efficiency. Ma et al. [9] conducted a study on the expansion of environmentally friendly drilling fluid lubricants specifically designed for shale horizontal wells. Three distinct lubricants were successfully formulated, specifically graphene oxide (GO), a choline chloride/glycerol-based deep eutectic solvent (DES-Gly), and a combination of GO and DES-Gly (GO/DES-Gly). These novel lubricants exhibited superior friction reduction performance compared to conventional solid graphite commercial lubricants. This superiority stems from the ability of the environmentally friendly lubricants to form a protective film, significantly reducing the friction coefficient between metal and filter cake. Additionally, Gly-DES demonstrated excellent filtration loss reduction performance. Wang et al. [10] synthesized a non-toxic and easily degradable organic borate ester SOP, serving as an eco-friendly lubricant for drilling fluid applications. The combination of a physical adsorption film and a chemical reaction film formed by SOP between the drilling tool and the wellbore synergistically contributed to the significant reduction in frictional resistance and wear. To explore the utility of hydrated basil seeds (HBS) in hole cleaning, a base fluid was prepared by adding polyacrylamide (PA) to pure water. HBS were then suspended in this base fluid at various concentrations, and an experimental investigation was conducted to assess their impact on both the rheological properties and specific heat capacity of the fluid. The findings suggest that HBS can be effectively employed at lower concentrations for efficient hole cleaning [11]. Some scholars [12] developed an environmentally friendly water-based drilling fluid lubricant with low aromatic content and high biodegradability, which exhibited excellent lubrication performance even after 28 days. Other researchers designed a water-based drilling fluid lubricant for horizontal wells and extended-reach wells, the main components of which are phosphate esters and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers [13]. Farahani M V et al. [14] have formulated a robust modeling technique to forecast the shear stress of thixotropic fluids based on shear rate and other factors, including time and elastic strain. When applied to available datasets, the proposed model demonstrated high accuracy, with an average relative error below 0.5% and a standard deviation of less than 0.1. These results confirm its effectiveness in predicting shear stress and delineating the rheological characteristics of thixotropic fluids. The lubricant has little effect on the rheology and water loss of the drilling fluid. Nonetheless, research on natural plant materials serving as lubricants for drilling fluids remains relatively scarce.
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), which is rich in nutrients such as vitamins, polysaccharides, protein, and dietary fiber, is a common vegetable and is used as a medicine ingredient in Asia [15]. Among them, water-soluble polysaccharides are mainly composed of pectin, xyloglucan, and glucuronic acid xylan. As the okra polysaccharide is dissolved in water, it possesses the ability to enhance a highly viscous solution, exhibiting a thick, sticky appearance. So, it is often used as a thickener, gelling agent, and texture modifier [16,17,18,19]. The polysaccharides in okra mucus have pseudoplasticity and viscoelasticity, so some scholars extracted polysaccharides from okra and prepared microspheres by emulsification and cross-linking, which can be used as a new type of carrier [20,21]. Some scholars [22] have found that okra can be used as an excellent shale inhibitor and filtrate reducer in drilling operations. Okra mucilage significantly decreased clay swelling when compared to distilled water. Additionally, its performance was comparable to a widely utilized clay stabilizer in the industry, KCl. It was noted that okra mucilage minimized fluid loss and produced a slim filter cake. The incorporation of okra mucilage enhanced the rheological properties of the fluid. Furthermore, the increase in clay particles and decrease in zeta potential indicated the inhibitory qualities of okra mucilage. At present, research has shown that the polysaccharide component in okra mucus is considered an active substance with high rheological properties and broad application prospects. However, there is still a lack of sufficient literature on the use of okra as a lubricant in WD. These characteristics inspired us to develop and apply okra slurry as a green lubricant for drilling fluids. In this work, okra slurry is applied in WD and the effects on the lubricity of drilling fluid are evaluated, as shown in Figure 1. In addition, the lubricating mechanism was studied by TGA, SEM, FT-IR, and contact angle experiments.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

Fresh okra was obtained from a vegetable market. The okra was washed with tap water, sliced into small pieces, and then ground into okra slurry using a grinder operating at 25 °C and 10,000 rpm, with a mass ratio of 1:1 of okra to tap water for spare parts. Bentonite was supplied by Changqing Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an, China.

2.2. Drilling Fluids Properties Evaluation

Four percent of sodium bentonite was added to 350 mL of tap water and stirred for 30 min, sealed, and aged at 25 °C for 16 h. Consistent with the above conditions, the drilling fluid treated with okra was obtained by adding 4% sodium bentonite to 350 mL of okra slurry, which contained volume fractions ranging from 0.5% to 2.5%. To assess the rheological, filtration, and lubrication characteristics of the drilling fluid, including apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), API filtration (FL), and friction coefficient (Tg), we utilized a viscometer (model ZNN-D6S, manufactured by Haitongda Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China) and a medium-pressure filtration apparatus (model GJSS-B12K, produced by Haitongda Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China). These measurements were conducted at temperatures of 25 °C and rotational speeds of 300 and 600 rpm, employing the formulas stipulated in the Chinese National Standard GB/T 16783.1-2006 [23]. COF (coefficient of friction) was evaluated by OFITE digital EP lubricity tester by Olebo (Wuhan, China) Technology Co., Ltd. (112-00-01, Houston, TX, USA) according to the formulas in Chinese Oil and Gas Industry Standard SY/T 6094-94 [24]. AV, PV, and YP were calculated using Equations (1)–(3):
A V c P = φ 600 r p m / 2
P V c P = φ 600 r p m φ 300 r p m
Y P 1 b f 100 f t 2 = φ 300 r p m P V c P
where φ is dial reading at different speeds.

2.3. Particle Distribution Experiment

In the sample preparation process, 350 mL of tap water was combined with 4% bentonite sodium and 0.2% sodium carbonate, followed by 30 min of stirring and 16 h of aging at 25 °C. Subsequently, an okra slurry was incorporated into the mixture and agitated for 20 min before measuring the particle size of the bentonite using LS-13320 (Beckman Coulter Inc., Brea, CA, USA), following established procedures [25,26].

2.4. Mechanism Analysis Characterization

2.4.1. TGA and SEM

Bentonite was mixed with okra mud at room temperature for 24 h; the mixture was centrifuged at 4000 rpm, and 200 mL of okra-treated drilling fluid was taken, rinsed with tap water, and dried for 12 h. TGA and SEM analysis were performed. The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed utilizing a TGA/DSC 1/1600 instrument from Mettler Toledo, Inc., located in Zurich, Switzerland. To investigate the surface morphology of the sample, a digital microscope imaging scanning electron microscope, specifically the Hitachi model SU 6600 with serial number HI-2102-0003 by Hitachi Scientific Instruments (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China, was employed [27,28].

2.4.2. Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis (FT-IR)

The drilling fluid samples treated with water and okra were subjected to hydration dispersion for 24 h at 25 °C. Subsequently, the dispersed samples were evenly applied onto the infrared absorption plates of the VERTEX 70 Bruker by Baidaoheng Instrument Equipment (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China, infrared spectrometer. Spectra were then scanned and collected within the range of 500 cm−1 to 4000 cm−1 to acquire comprehensive functional group information [29].

2.4.3. Contact Angle Test

The adsorption state of sodium bentonite and other molecules in the drilling fluid may be verified by assessing the contact angle of a steel sheet immersed in the drilling fluid. Additionally, the lubricating performance of the lubricant was investigated through contact angle experiments, as it is related to the adsorbed film formed on the surface of the bentonite particles. The contact angle measurements were performed using the JC2000 DS Contact Angle Measurement Instrument from Shanghai Zhongchen Digital Technology Equipment Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China. The steel plates, treated with WD and okra-treated drilling fluid separately, were soaked in 200 mL of each respective fluid and left to air dry for 24 h at 25 °C. Subsequently, the contact angles of the treated steel plates were measured using the same instrument.

3. Results and Commentary

3.1. Chemicals in Okra

The okra fruit is rich in a variety of functional components, such as polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and flavonoids. Okra contains a lot of slimy juice, which is mainly composed of pectin and polysaccharides. Bhat [28] confirmed that the main monosaccharide composition of hydrolyzed okra mucopolysaccharide includes rhamnose, galactose, and glucuronic acid. Sengkhamparn [30] systematically studied the cell wall polysaccharides of okra and found that the main structure is polyrhamnogalacturonic acid I (RG-I) and polygalacturonic acid (HG), as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. The soluble RG I was associated with homogalacturonan structural components and exhibited similarities to typically encountered RG I, featuring substitutions of short beta-linked galactose chains, some of which were decorated with arabinose. The okra-derived RG-I displayed distinct rheological properties compared to other pectins, as its diluted solutions exhibited exceptionally high viscosities and a characteristic slimy texture. Notably, the acetylation of the rhamnosyl residues significantly influenced its rheological behavior and played a pivotal role through hydrophobic interactions. The polysaccharide component in okra mucus may be the main factor of its lubricity.

3.2. Performance Evaluation of Okra Slurry

Figure 4 shows the effect of dosages of okra slurry on the COF of WD. With the increase in okra slurry, the COF decreases from 0.4934 to 0.2384 at a concentration of 2.5%. The reason may be that the polysaccharides and proteins contained in okra have a lubricating effect. The okra-derived mucus creates a viscous, lubricating layer on the surface experiencing friction, consequently lowering the coefficient of friction (COF) of the working device (WD) and enhancing its lubricating properties. Furthermore, observation of Table 1 reveals that as the amount of okra slurry increases, the AV and PV of the fluid also increase, while the FL (API) decreases. After the polysaccharides in okra dissolve in water, they form highly entangled molecular chains. In the solution, these chains intertwine to construct a three-dimensional network configuration. As the concentration of okra increases, the polysaccharide network structure formed becomes more dense. This dense network can more effectively prevent liquid from passing through, thereby reducing filtration loss. There may be hydrogen bonds or other weak interactions between polysaccharide molecules, further enhancing the stability of the network. The polysaccharide network forms a colloidal film between the drilling fluid and the formation. As the concentration increases, the thickness and density of the membrane improve, further preventing the permeation of liquids and achieving the goal of reducing filtration loss.

3.3. Particle Distribution

Examination of Figure 5 and Table 2 reveals that the average particle sizes of the untreated and okra slurry-treated bentonite particles are 55.32 μm and 49.62 μm, respectively, and the median particle size is 39.76 μm and 38.23 μm, respectively. A comparison of the particle size of bentonite is conducted between its state before and after being treated with okra slurry; the median and average particle size after bentonite hydration can be found to be larger than that of bentonite after okra slurry treatment. The polyhydroxyl groups present in okra polysaccharides adhere to the surfaces of bentonite particles, creating an adsorptive layer that hinders further hydration and swelling of the particles [31]. On the other hand, the polysaccharides in okra contain multiple hydroxyl groups, which can adsorb onto the surface of bentonite particles, forming an adsorption film. The adsorption membrane not only inhibits the hydration and swelling of bentonite but also forms a smooth interface on the particle surface, reducing friction between particles. The reduced specific surface area of the treated bentonite particles means a decrease in the contact area between particles, further reducing friction.

3.4. Mechanism

3.4.1. Scanning Electron Microscopy

SEM was utilized to analyze the microscopic morphology of bentonite particles after treatment with water and okra slurry to explore the effect of okra slurry on the microstructure of bentonite. Figure 6a,b show the slurry treated with tap water and the base slurry modified with okra mucilage powder, respectively. Compared with the bentonite sample treated with water, the bentonite sample treated with okra slurry displayed smaller particle sizes, indicating its effective inhibition of hydration swelling in bentonite mud. This finding is consistent with the particle size distribution results described earlier [32,33]. The incorporation of okra mucilage into the base mud facilitates the aggregation between bentonite platelets and the elongated chains of okra mucilage. This mucilage is predominantly composed of intricate polysaccharide structures adorned with functional moieties along their lengths. These moieties engage with bentonite platelets, forming a cohesive structure on the mud-based slurry particles, subsequently decreasing fluid loss within the wellbore formation. The particle arrangement of the base mud, modified by okra mucilage, exhibits a highly compact nature with minimal defects. Consequently, incorporating okra mucilage powder into drilling fluid formulations stands as a viable option, as it diminishes cake tightness and minimizes fluid loss.

3.4.2. Fourier Transform Infrared

Figure 7 shows the FT-IR spectra of the drilling fluid treated with okra exhibited similar peak shapes to those of the water-treated drilling fluid, both displaying the absorption peaks associated with bentonite. The absorption peaks observed at 520 cm−1 correspond to the stretching vibrations of Si-O tetrahedra, while those at 1037 cm−1 are indicative of Si-O-Si bending vibrations, confirming the presence of silica. Peaks within the range of 700 cm−1 to 650 cm−1 are primarily attributed to the bonding between aluminosilicates. The presence of the –OH group was verified by peaks at 3626 cm−1. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) analysis of bentonite modified with 2.5% okra mucilage exhibited all the peaks present in the FT-IR spectra of both bentonite and okra mucilage. Notably, the peak at 3465 cm−1 represents the stretching vibration of –OH in the interlayer water molecules. This indicates that the basic crystal structure and framework of bentonite remain unchanged during the modification process. It is worth noting that compared to the water-treated drilling fluids, the okra-treated drilling fluids show significant enhancement in the symmetric bending peak of C-H near 1456 cm−1 and the stretching vibration absorption peak of Al-OH hydroxyl group at 3626 cm−1. This suggests that the polysaccharides present in okra adsorb to form a lubricating film on the surface of bentonite, reducing the friction force and improving its lubricity [34].

3.4.3. Thermogravimetric Analysis

TGA was used to evaluate the relationship between mass loss and temperature in the range of 20–250 °C. Figure 8 shows that the mass loss rate of bentonite particles treated with water at 20~110 °C is the same as that of bentonite particles treated with okra mud (about 2.5%). Up to 250 °C, bentonite particles treated with okra mud only experienced an additional 1% mass loss. This indicates that okra mud has good thermal stability at typical on-site temperatures (<150 °C). Within the temperature range of 25~250 °C, the mass loss rate of bentonite particles treated with water (about 4.0%) is higher than that of bentonite particles treated with okra mud (about 3.5%). It may be due to the polysaccharides in okra adsorbed or aggregated on the surface of the bentonite, so that the free water is wrapped, reducing the volatilization of free water. On the other hand, it may be that the small molecular components of the okra enter the layers of bentonite, which may bond the bentonite layers and increase the interaction between layers, so as to decrease the looseness of the internal structure of the bentonite, resulting in a slower rate of free water migration and volatilization. The TGA results show that okra can effectively reduce the volatilization of free water, which is very important in drilling fluids. Maintaining sufficient free moisture can ensure the fluidity and effectiveness of the lubricant, avoiding overheating of the drill bit. Moreover, the small molecular components of okra enhance the interlayer interactions of bentonite, and the stability of this structure can improve the performance of drilling fluid under high temperature and pressure conditions, ensuring the smooth progress of the drilling process.

3.4.4. Contact Angle Analysis

The formation of an adsorption film on the friction surface by lubricant molecules is dependent on adhesion energy, and its wettability will affect the strength of the adhesion energy. The adsorption capacity of lubricant molecules on a solid surface can be indirectly assessed by observing changes in the solid surface’s wettability. This wettability can be quantified by measuring the contact angle of a liquid on a solid surface. Figure 9 illustrates the contact angles of tap water on steel sheets that have been treated with WD and okra slurry-based drilling fluid for a duration of 24 h. The contact angle of the drilling fluid treated with okra (Figure 9b) was significantly higher at 48.07° compared to the drilling fluid without okra treatment (Figure 9a) at 17.60°. This increase in contact angle can be attributed to the adsorption of okra onto the surface of bentonite particles, forming a hydrophobic adsorption film, thereby enhancing the hydrophobic properties of the drilling fluid. An increase in the contact angle means that wettability decreases and it is easier for a lubricating film to form on the surface.

3.4.5. Economic Analysis

This study made up for the high demand and high cost of traditional oilfield drilling fluid lubricants by converting the crop okra into a drilling fluid lubricant suitable for oilfield sites and also solved the problem of complex processing technology of traditional lubricants. The widely used lubricants on the market are shown in Table 3. In comparison, the price of using okra as a drilling fluid lubricant is USD 440 per ton. This includes the transportation, loading and unloading, processing, and finished product packaging costs of crops. Compared with conventional drilling fluid lubricant processing, the transportation cost of okra is USD 27–35/truck, while the transportation, processing, and packaging costs of finished products generated by the large-scale machines purchased in the early stage are USD 840, and the maintenance costs in the later stage are USD 25–36. It can be seen that using okra as a drilling fluid lubricant not only reduces the friction coefficient of the drilling fluid but also reduces the cost by about 40%. More importantly, the cost of growing okra is relatively low, especially in areas where okra is a native crop. This affordability can be translated into a reduction in the cost of raw materials for drilling operations. In addition, okra’s rapid growth cycle and high yield potential ensure sustainable supply, mitigating risks associated with resource scarcity. The following is the cost calculation (Equation (4)):
C = ZpCp + C0
where C is the total cost of drilling fluid lubricant, in USD/ton; Zp is the proportion of water or okra in each ton of drilling fluid lubricant, which is 0.50 tons/ton and 0.50 tons/ton respectively; Cp is the total cost per ton of water or okra, as estimated; C0 is the total cost of transportation, packaging, and processing, estimated to be USD 46–67 per ton [35].

4. Conclusions

Following the performance evaluation and mechanism research, it was determined that the okra slurry demonstrates notable lubrication performance. The inclusion of 2.5% okra slurry in water-based drilling fluids led to a substantial 51.68% reduction in the coefficient of friction. Additionally, the filtration loss decreased by 39.88%. Particle distribution, TGA, and SEM proved that okra has high inhibitory properties and a lubrication effect on drilling fluids. Contact angle experiments were used to confirm the hydrophobicity of okra. Therefore, the drilling fluids will have better lubricity after adding okra slurry, which can avoid the problem of high torque caused by friction to a certain extent. Finally, the economic feasibility of using okra as an environmentally friendly lubricant for drilling fluids was analyzed, which is comparable to the products currently used in oil fields. In addition, using okra as a lubricant also has significant environmental benefits. This work combines agricultural products with industrial production, which not only solves industrial problems but also enhances the added value of agricultural products, providing a reference for the coordinated development of industry and agriculture.
Due to the fact that this study was conducted in a laboratory environment, it may be affected by environmental factors such as temperature and pressure in practical applications. In the future, field experiments need to be conducted in real drilling environments to verify the lubrication performance and stability of okra slurry under different conditions. In addition, this study mainly focuses on short-term performance evaluation, lacking evaluation of the stability, and lubrication effect of okra slurry during long-term use. Long-term lubrication performance tracking research can be conducted in the future to evaluate the effectiveness and changes in okra slurry after multiple uses.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, H.H. and G.C.; methodology, H.H.; software, X.C.; validation, H.H., Y.S. and L.X.; formal analysis, B.B.; investigation, G.C.; resources, Y.S.; data curation, H.H.; writing—original draft preparation, H.H.; writing—review and editing, H.H.; visualization, L.X.; supervision, B.B.; project administration, G.C.; funding acquisition, G.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The work was supported financially by the Shaanxi Key Research and Development Plan (2023-YBGY-052), the Key Scientific Research Program of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education (23JP113), and the Open Foundation of Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Lacustrine Shale Gas Accumulation and Exploitation (YJSYZX23SKF0009).

Data Availability Statement

Data are contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

We thank the support of the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi University and the Modern Analysis and Testing Center of Xi’an Shiyou University.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors Huifeng He, Xiaofeng Chang and Yan Sun were employed by the company Changqing Drilling Company of CCDC, China National Petroleum Corporation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Schematic of the application of okra in improving the lubricity of WD.
Figure 1. Schematic of the application of okra in improving the lubricity of WD.
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Figure 2. Structure of polyrhamnogalacturonic acid I (RG-I).
Figure 2. Structure of polyrhamnogalacturonic acid I (RG-I).
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Figure 3. Structure of polygalacturonic acid I (HG).
Figure 3. Structure of polygalacturonic acid I (HG).
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Figure 4. Effect of okra slurry dosage on COF of water-based drilling fluid.
Figure 4. Effect of okra slurry dosage on COF of water-based drilling fluid.
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Figure 5. Distribution of bentonite particle size under various conditions.
Figure 5. Distribution of bentonite particle size under various conditions.
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Figure 6. SEM images of bentonite treated with different methods: (a) bentonite treated with 2.5% okra slurry and (b) bentonite treated with tap water.
Figure 6. SEM images of bentonite treated with different methods: (a) bentonite treated with 2.5% okra slurry and (b) bentonite treated with tap water.
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Figure 7. FT-IR spectra of bentonite treated with water and 2.5% okra slurry.
Figure 7. FT-IR spectra of bentonite treated with water and 2.5% okra slurry.
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Figure 8. TGA of bentonite treated with tap water and okra slurry.
Figure 8. TGA of bentonite treated with tap water and okra slurry.
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Figure 9. Contact angle of tap water on steel sheet: (a) water-based drilling fluid and (b) drilling fluid treated by okra slurry.
Figure 9. Contact angle of tap water on steel sheet: (a) water-based drilling fluid and (b) drilling fluid treated by okra slurry.
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Table 1. Effect of okra slurry dosage on water-based drilling fluid.
Table 1. Effect of okra slurry dosage on water-based drilling fluid.
Dosage/%AV/mPa·sAV
Err
PV/mPa·sPV
Err
YP/PaYP
Err
YP/PVYP/PV ErrFL(API)/mLFL
Err
0.0 15.20.610.71.54.51.00.40.232.60.9
0.5 14.80.810.71.24.20.80.40.126.30.4
1.0 16.00.512.30.63.70.30.30.024.60.2
1.5 17.20.312.71.24.50.90.40.123.10.6
2.0 20.20.814.72.55.51.80.40.220.30.3
2.5 23.01.015.32.97.72.10.50.219.60.2
Table 2. Particle size of bentonite treated with different methods.
Table 2. Particle size of bentonite treated with different methods.
Treatment 25 °CMean (μm)Mean (μm)
Err
Median (μm)Median (μm)
Err
Water-treated55.320.339.760.5
2.5% Okra slurry-treated49.620.438.230.4
Table 3. Common drilling fluid lubricant prices.
Table 3. Common drilling fluid lubricant prices.
ClassificationProductPrice (USD/t)
Okra lubricantAbelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench640
Synthetic lubricantsSynthol 1500, ClearLube 2000430–850
Vegetable oil-based lubricantsEcoLube 500, BioLube 3000350–770
Mineral oil-based lubricantsDrillFluid 1000, PetroLube 1500250–430
Polymer-based lubricantsPolyLube 2000, ViscoLube 3000360–720
Natural clay-based lubricantClayLube 500, Bentonite Gel 1000150–300
Bio-based lubricantsBioLube 4000, EcoLube 6000430–730
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He, H.; Chang, X.; Sun, Y.; Xue, L.; Bai, B.; Chen, G. Study on the Effectiveness of Okra as an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Lubricant for Drilling Fluid. Processes 2024, 12, 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112417

AMA Style

He H, Chang X, Sun Y, Xue L, Bai B, Chen G. Study on the Effectiveness of Okra as an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Lubricant for Drilling Fluid. Processes. 2024; 12(11):2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112417

Chicago/Turabian Style

He, Huifeng, Xiaofeng Chang, Yan Sun, Le Xue, Bingbing Bai, and Gang Chen. 2024. "Study on the Effectiveness of Okra as an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Lubricant for Drilling Fluid" Processes 12, no. 11: 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112417

APA Style

He, H., Chang, X., Sun, Y., Xue, L., Bai, B., & Chen, G. (2024). Study on the Effectiveness of Okra as an Environmentally Friendly and Economical Lubricant for Drilling Fluid. Processes, 12(11), 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12112417

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