Low environmental impact oil drilling fluid filtration control using cassava starch

Abstract

Fluid filtration during oil drilling is a technical anomaly resulting in losses due to inadequate extraction
and displacement of oil within the well; currently, there are several filtration controllers, although they
are quite expensive. In recent years, cassava starch (Manihot esculetum) has been used for its physical
chemical properties, resulting in a sustainable alternative. Therefore, this research aimed to obtain and
evaluate a filtering controller for oil well drilling fluids based on cassava starch. For this purpose, filtrate
and rheology control tests were carried out using fermented native cassava starch as treatment. These were

analyzed and compared with API Specification 13A 18th edition, for drilling fluids. The results obtained
show that the filtrate controller at a concentration of 10 lb/1bl H2O maintains minimum rheology values
that do not affect the controller, with values similar to the standards used for drilling fluids; however,
the hydrolysis of the starch was not efficient to improve its qualities, Since the filtrate control time is less
efficient and the fluid increases the acidity, affecting its rheological properties, the use of cassava starch is
an alternative for the filtrate control of drilling fluids with minimum environmental impact since cassava
starch does not have toxic components for the fauna and flora of the intervened ecosystem.