Effects of the Water Quality on the Dispersion Properties of Bentonites Used for Drilling Fluid

시추이수용 벤토나이트의 분산 특성에 미치는 수질의 영향

  • Published : 2007.03.30

Abstract

The dispersion/flocculation behavior of bentonite is a major concern in performance of drilling fluid. We studied the dispersion/flocculation characteristics of three commercial bentonites [two CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) treated and one untreated] in waters of different pHs and salt concentrations. We also examined changes in the viscosity of bentonite suspensions in such waters as a major rheological property of drilling fluid. The dispersion/flocculation behaviors of bentonites were measured by two methods: colorimetric and light scattering method. Light scattering method allows estimating the floc diameter and flocculation rate. The dispersion and flocculation behaviors were diverse with the different bentonites and water qualities. In distilled water, all the bentonites were well dispersed up to first 10 minutes. After that, the CMC-bearing bentonites were flocculated. In salt waters, all the samples were flocculated and the flocculation rate is varied with salt concentration and polymer content. The volume of settled flocs decreased with increasing salt concentration. The flocculation rate and floc diameter increased with decreasing pH of solutions, whereas the volume of settled flocs increased with increasing pH of solutions. The bentonites of fast flocculation behavior had low viscosity. The results of the present study will be helpful in applying bentonites to drilling fluids in diverse environments.

벤토나이트의 분산/응집 거동은 시추이수의 성능에 큰 영향을 줌으로 주요 관심의 대상이 된다. 본 연구에서는 상업적으로 활용되고 있는 3종의 벤토나이트[2종의 CMC (carboxy-methyl cellulose)처리 벤토나이트와 1종의 무처리 벤토나이트]에 대하여 pH와 염분농도가 다른 용액에서의 분산/응집 특성을 분석하였다. 또한, 벤토나이트 현탁액의 점성 변화를 시추용 이수의 유동학적 측면에서 검토하였다. 벤토나이트의 분산/응집 거동은 비색분석법과 광분산법의 두 방법으로 측정되었으며, 광분산법으로 침전된 입자의 직경과 침전속도도 검토하였다. 벤토나이트의 종류와 수질에 따라 분산/응집 거동은 다양하게 나타났다. 초기 10분 동안에 모든 종류의 벤토나이트는 좋은 분산 특징을 보여주나, 이후에 CMC를 함유한 벤토나이트들은 다소 응집되는 특성을 보여주었다. 염수에서는 모든 시료들이 응집되는 특성을 보이여 응집속도는 염의 농도와 폴리머의 농도에 따라 변화하였다. 침전된 응집물의 부피는 염의 농도가 증가됨에 따라 감소하였다. 용액의 pH는 시료의 분산/응집 거동에 주요한 영향을 미치며, 응집 속도와 응집입자의 직경은 용액의 pH가 감소함에 따라 증가하였다. 반면에, 침전된 응집물의 부피는 pH가 증가됨에 따라 증가하였다. 응집 속도가 빠른 벤토나이트 분산용액은 점성이 낮았다. 다양한 환경에서 벤토나이트를 시추이수용으로 적용하고자 할 경우, 본 연구의 결과들은 유용한 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

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