Evaluation of the Potential of Cassava Flour as Viscosifier in Water Based Mud

Success of any rotary drilling mud is to remove cuttings during drilling process. Viscosity is by far, the most needed property of the drilling fluid to aid it perform its needed task. The viscosity property of the mud helps in well cleaning and also aid in the suspension of drilling cuttings when circulation of the fluid is put on hold. It is important to monitor and continuously adjust the viscosity of the drilling fluid. Cassava flour in controlling viscosity and fluid loss in Water Based Mud (WBM) was investigated in this study. Various mud samples were formulated consisting of different masses of cassava flour (5 g, 15 g, 30 g and 45 g) and an additional one being the control bentonite clay (0 g of cassava flour). Rheological tests were carried out to determine the plastic viscosity, mud density, and gel strength. This investigation showed that increasing the amount of cassava flour in a water based mud increased the viscosity of the mud swelling with exception of 5g cassava flour for the 10secs and 10mins gel strength and mud density.