Low temperature green nano-composite vegetable-gum drilling fluid

Drilling in alpine ecological fragile areas for the energy and mineral exploration needs superior low temperature drilling fluids with the required environmental protection of the ecosystem and a high efficiency of core drilling. To meet this demand, a comprehensive study on the appropriate material sourcing, lab measured properties and mechanism analysis of a new drilling fluid suitable for such areas was conducted by a systematic method of theoretical analysis, experimental work and a verifying field test. As a result, a new low temperature vegetable gum drilling fluid (NCKL) was developed by mixing with kuli vegetable gum, antifreeze potassium formate, nano silica, polymer synergist, and inorganic treatment agent. Lab test results showed that NCKL had an easy preparation, good low temperature rheology, viscoelasticity, anti-collapse property, and exceeding environmental protection level requirement (as per LC50 test). An analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the microscopic features of NCKL, which led to a low temperature mechanism explanation. Finally a successful field test demonstrated that NCKL provided a new potential solution for a better core drilling in complex strata of alpine ecological fragile areas.