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Nanotechnology: An Emerging Drilling Fluid Solution

Medhi S, Chowdhury S, Gupta DK and Mehrotra U

Exploration of oil and gas involves drilling a continuous hole from the surface to a predetermined depth in the sub-surface which can be of several kilometres. One of the key factors to achieve a trouble free drilling task is the characteristic and design parameters of a drilling fluid. A drill bit is used as a primary tool, which has a long string of drill pipes attached to it. When a substantial amount of weight is applied, the bit tends to drill the area and releases little sections (cuttings). In order to carry out faster and effective drilling and to carry these cuttings to the surface a drilling fluid is used which flows from surface through the drill pipes to the drill bit and back to the surface and disposes off the cuttings. During a drilling operation there are mainly three components which operate simultaneously, namely, a rotatory system responsible for rotating the drill bit, a hoisting system for lowering and uplifting of the drill string and a circulatory system (like a human heart) which circulates the drilling fluid throughout the drill string to the drill bit and then back to the surface.