Developing Green Lost Circulation Material (LCM) Derived from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB)

• Main Author: Zabidi, Zairul Zahha
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2011
• Subjects: T Technology (General)
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10409/1/2011%20-%20Devolpoing%20green%20lost%20circulation%20material%20%28LCM%29%20derived%20from%20oil%20palm%20empty%20fruit%20bunch%20%28.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/10409/

This report concerns on investigation on lost circulation materials (LCM) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB). This project mainly aims to study the effectiveness of using oil palm EFB as LCM additives to prevent the lost circulation problem. The paper discusses the literature review of the lost circulation problems, the lost circulation materials and the characterization of the parameters of drilling fluid. It also confers the methodologies for LCM to resolve severe lost circulation problems and designing the mud samples, the mud densities, the rheological tests and the filtration performance volume tests. Tests have been conducted in accordance with the API 13 B and the related equipments were mixer, mud balance, viscometer and low pressure low temperature (LPL T) filter press. Properties measured through this experiment are density, plastic viscosity, yield point, 10-second and 1 0-minute gel strength and filtration rate. Considering the fact that lost circulation is one of the most serious and expensive problems facing the drilling industry, lost circulation materials should be low-cost waste products, and in this case it is the oil palm EFB. Since the oil palm EFB is high in fiber, it has a very good potential to be a good fibrous LCM. Overall, addition of 5 lb/bbl of any of the LCM additives generally improved the filtration properties; however the extent of the improvement depended on the additive material and size distribution of the additive. Nevertheless, increasing the LCM additives concentration from 5 lb/bbl and 10 lb/bbl had adversely affected and increased the amount of total filtrate volume. The optimum concentration of LCM for minimum fluid loss was found to be at 8 lb/bbl.