Effect of Cycloaliphatic Amine on the Shale Inhibitive Properties of Water-Based Drilling Fluid

ABSTRACT

In order to improve the inhibitive properties and high temperature resistance of shale inhibitor, cycloaliphatic amines were introduced as shale hydration inhibitors in water-based drilling fluids. Bulk hardness test, shale cuttings dispersion test, bentonite inhibition test and water adsorption test were carried out to characterize the inhibitive properties of the novel amines. Surface tension measurement, zeta potential measurement, XRD, contact angle test, SEM and TGA were performed to investigate the interaction between the cycloaliphatic amines and clay particles. The results indicated that cycloaliphatic amines exhibited superior inhibitive properties to the state of the art inhibitors. Moreover, the amines were high temperature resistant. The hydrophobic amine could intercalate into the clay gallery with monolayer orientation. The protonated ammonium ions neutralized the negatively charged surface. After adsorption, the hydrophobic segment covered the clay surface and provided a shell preventing the ingress of water.

Keywords:

Clay hydration and swelling, cycloaliphatic amine, high temperature, inhibitive property, mechanism.