Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Properties of Na-Bentonite Water Based Drilling Fluid

Abstract

This study aims to investigate and define the influence of gold nanoparticle functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (AuNP/p-MWCNTs) on the performance of drilling fluids to make the drilling operation smooth and efficient. For this purpose; AuNP/p-MWCNTs used as an additive (in the range of 0.001 to 0.1 % w/v) in water based Na-bentonite drilling fluid. The characterization of AuNP/p-MWCNTs and Na-bentonite were used in the plain drilling fluid has been examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The rheological properties such as apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP) and gel strength of the AuNP/p-MWCNTs added drilling fluid were determined. The filtration properties were also examined using an API Filter Press. The results indicated that the AuNP/p-MWCNTs was a good candidate as a drilling fluid additive due to the increasing PV (85,7 %), AV (113 %), YP (187.5 %) and gel strengths (10-second 275 % and 10-minute 166.6 %) and the reduction in the loss of filtrate (6 %).