OS3B-3:RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF XANTHAN GUM AND POLYACRYLAMIDE MIXTURE IN INORGANIC SALT SOLUTIONS

Youhong SUN, Wei GUO, Mingyi GUO, Huanan LIU, Chuang LI

College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, CHINA

Xanthan gum, a polysaccharide secreted by the bacterium xanthomonas campestris, has been widely used as rheology modifier for drilling fluid, in particular, for non-solid phases drilling fluid. It is usually used to adjust the viscosity as well as shear force of drilling fluid. The gum also shows highly stability in acid or inorganic salt solution, which can be used for low temperature drilling fluid system containing inorganic salt antifreeze. At the same time, polyacrylamide, which is widely used in drilling, completion, fracturing, cementing, and other mining operations in the drilling project, has been gained extensive attention.

In this study, the rheology of xanthan gum/polyacrylamide mixture in inorganic salt solutions has been well investigated. Four kinds polyacrylamide, cationic, anionic, amphoteric and non-ionic polyacrylamide, were introduced into the xanthan gum/polyacrylamide system. Furthermore, the ion strength influence of the rheology was also demonstrated. It showed that the mixing of xanthan gum and polyacrylamide can induce a viscosity-increasing effect for the mixed solution. The increase of salt concentration and shear rate can induce the decrease of solution viscosity, viscosity-increasing effect of the xanthan gum/polyacrylamide mixture system.

It is expected that this study will shed light on the designing and choosing appropriate components for low temperature drilling fluid system, which plays crucial role in the success of a natural gas hydrate drilling project.