IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

IIARD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (IJGEM )

E-ISSN 2504-8821
P-ISSN 2695-1878
VOL. 11 NO. 1 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijgem.v11.no1.2025.pg1.11

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Compositional and Physical Characterization of Drilling Mud: A case study of Ughelli North Clay Deposit

Lily Obioma Irabor

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Abstract

The entire process of characterising these clay deposits is not only complex but also important as it helps in ascertaining its suitability especially as it pertains to drilling mud formulation. Compositional and physical analysis of mud is important because it helps us to understand the mud’s properties, composition and behaviour which is in turn helpful to us in order to select a suitable clay for mud formulation. This research is focused on characterisation of the properties of the locally sourced mud from Ughelli North clay deposit. The study evaluated the mud pH, mud density, rheological properties and sand concentration. The declining trend in plastic and apparent viscosities, coupled with a largely stable but low yield point, suggests that the Ughelli North clay may have limited capacity to maintain rheological stability over extended periods. The results also indicate that the Ughelli North clay contains low to moderate levels of metals, with no significant toxicity concerns for industrial applications. The low levels of lead and zinc minimize environmental risks, while the moderate levels of manganese and copper suggest potential contributions to the physical and chemical stability of the drilling mud. Further research could explore the investigation of the interactions between clay particles and polymer additives to understand their combined effects on viscosity, and stability of drilling muds, enabling better control over mud properties.

keywords:

Drilling Mud, Clay Deposits, Characterization, Compositional Analysis

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