Lignite mud

Freshwater Muds—Dispersed Systems. The pH value of low-pH muds may range from 7.0 to 9.5. Low-pH muds include spud muds, bentonite-treated muds, natural muds, phosphate-treated muds, organic thinned muds (red muds, lignite muds, lignosulfate muds), and organic colloid-treated muds. The pH value of high pH muds, such as alkaline tannate-treated mud, is above 9.5. 

Lignite muds are high-temperature resistant up to 230° C. Lignite can control viscosity, gel strength, and fluid loss. The total hardness must be lower than 20 ppm. 

Lignite, generally leonardite, and lignite derivatives are appHed in water-based muds as thinners and filtration control agents. Leonardite is an oxidized lignite having a high content of humic acids, which may be described as carboxylated phenoHc polymers (59,60). Litde is known about the chemical stmcture. 

Lignites and lignosulfonates can act as o/w emulsifiers, but generally are added for other purposes. Various anionic surfactants, including alkylarylsulfonates and alkylaryl sulfates and poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives of fatty acids, esters, and others, are used. Very Httle oil is added to water-base muds in use offshore for environmental reasons. A nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) derivative of nonylphenol [9016-45-9] is used in calcium-treated muds (126). 

Solids present in oil and synthetic muds must be kept wet with the nonaqueous phase to prevent coagulation and settling and mud instabiUty. Oil-wetting agents are normally incorporated in the basic mud package. These materials are typically amines or quaternary ammonium salts having hydrocarbon chains of 10 or more carbon atoms. They also render clays or lignites oil-wet for use in viscosity and filtration control (128). 

Quebracho-treated freshwater muds were used in drilling at shallow depths. The name of red mud comes from the deep red color imparted to the mud by quebracho. Muds treated with a mixture of lignite and quebracho, or a mixture of alkaline organic polyphosphate chemicals (alkaline-tannate treated muds), are also included in the quebracho treated muds. The quebracho thinners are very effective at low concentrations, and offer good viscosity and filtration control. The pH of red" muds should be 8.5 to 10 mud temperature should be lower than 230°F. 

Seawater muds are composed of bentonite, thinner (lignosulfonate or lignosulfonate and lignite), and an organic filtration control agent. The typical formulation of a seawater mud is 3.5 Ib/bbl of alkali (2 Ib/bbl caustic soda and 1.5 Ib/bbl lime), 8 to 12 Ib/bbl of lignosulfonate, and 2 to 4 Ib/bbl of bentonite to maintain viscosity and filtration. Another approach is to use bentonite/thinner (ligno-sulfonate)/freshwater premix, and mix it with seawater that has been treated for hardness. This technique will be discussed in the saturated saltwater muds section. 

Heavy metals are present in drilled formation solids and in naturally occurring materials used as mud additives. The latter include barite, bentonite, lignite, and mica (sometimes used to stop mud losses downhole). There are background levels of heavy metals in trees that carry through into lignosulfonate made from them. 

Chromium lignosulfonates are the biggest contributions to heavy metals in drilling fluids. Although studies have shown minimal environmental impact, substitutes exist that can result in lower chromium levels in muds. The less used chromium lignites (trivalent chromium complexes) are similar in character and performance with less chromium. Nonchromium substitutes are effective in many situations. Typical total chromium levels in muds are 100-1000 mg/1. 

Seawater muds are composed of bentonite, thinner (lignosulfonate or ligno-sulfonate with lignite), and an organic filtration control agent. 

Laboratory experiments have been conducted with a chromium lignite-chromium lignosulfonate mud system both without and with solid lubricants. These studies include filtration loss, cake quality, and their impact on the formation. A comparative evaluation has led to the conclusion that Gilsonite is a better additive compared with sulfonated asphalt as it results in less filtration... 

A polymeric composition for reducing fluid loss in drilling muds and well cement compositions is obtained by the free radical-initiated polymerization of a water-soluble vinyl monomer in an aqueous suspension of lignin, modified lignins, lignite, brown coal, and modified brown coal [705,1847]. The vinyl monomers can be methacrylic acid, methacrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, vinylacetate, methyl vinyl ether, ethyl vinyl ether, N-methylmethacrylamide, N,N-dimethylmethacrylamide, vinyl sulfonate, and additional AMPS. In this process a grafting process to the coals by chain transfer may occur. 

Fluid loss additives such as solid particles and water-thickening polymers may be added to the drilling mud to reduce fluid loss from the well bore to the formation. Insoluble and partially soluble fluid loss additives include bentonite and other clays, starch from various sources, crushed walnut hulls, lignite treated with caustic or amines, resins of various types, gilsonite, benzoic acid flakes, and carefully sized particles of calcium borate, sodium borate, and mica. Soluble fluid loss additives include carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), low molecular weight hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), carboxy-methYlhydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC), and sodium acrylate. A large number of water-soluble vinyl copolymers and terpolymers have been described as fluid loss additives for drilling and completion fluids in the patent literature. However, relatively few appear to be used in field operations. 

Underclay and overburden sediments are typically clays with about 80% clay and 20% silt and muds with about 50% clay and 50% silt. The most distinct chemical variation in the overburden is the compact siderite- and dolomite-cemented concretion zone, 4.5 m above the base of the Kinneman Creek lignite. 

Corrosion control is a greater concern in water-based fluids than in oil-based fluids. As could be observed in Table 18.3, the primary corrosion effects were seen in the water-based muds with the lignite/lignosulfonate additives, while significant levels of slight corrosion were noted in the non-dispersed system. Since these two systems are being used in the industry for reasons not related to corrosion, special efforts must be made to make the systems more corrosion-resistant. 

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