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All Journal Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas
Adeolu J. Alawode
University of Ibadan
Chemical Engineering, Chemistry & Bioengineering Energy

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Isolated Effect of pH on The Rheological, Filtration, and Lubricity Characteristics of Polymer-Free Bentonite Drilling Fluids Adeolu J. Alawode; Adeshina T. Adeleke; Hussein O. Aliu; Abass A. Muhammed
Scientific Contributions Oil and Gas Vol 49 No 2 (2026)
Publisher : Testing Center for Oil and Gas LEMIGAS

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.29017/scog.v49i2.2058

Abstract

Alkalinity is a key control parameter in water-based drilling muds (WBM), yet its intrinsic influence on bentonite systems independent of specialty additives remains poorly resolved. This study examines the effect of pH variation on the rheological, filtration, lubricity, and flow-modeling behavior of bentonite-based WBMs formulated at pH 7.5 (control), 8, 10, and 12 using potassium hydroxide as the pH modifier. All measurements were conducted in accordance with API RP 13B-1 standards. Results show that increasing alkalinity progressively disrupts mud structure, with plastic viscosity and yield point declining by approximately 50–67% between pH 7.5 and 12. Rheological modeling using Bingham Plastic, Power Law, and Herschel–Bulkley formulations confirms this trend, as yield stress parameters and model fidelity deteriorate at elevated pH, particularly at pH 12. Extreme alkalinity also adversely affected filtration behavior, increasing API fluid loss from 22.0 to 77.7 mL and producing thicker, more permeable filter cakes. In contrast, lubricity showed a modest improvement with increasing pH, with the lubricity coefficient decreasing from 0.49 to 0.43. The results highlight a clear performance trade-off, indicating that excessive alkalinity undermines rheological stability and fluid-loss control despite minor gains in lubricity, thereby supporting the use of moderate alkalinity for balanced WBM performance.
Co-Authors Abass A. Muhammed Adeshina T. Adeleke Hussein O. Aliu