Experimental Study of Iraqi Ore Bentonite by Activation
Ihab Adnan Thabet
Abstract

This research deals the process ofadoptingOre Iraqi Bentonite as a basisin the drilling fluids of oil and gas wells and as local alternative for the imported Bentonite. Bentonite used in this study was taken from WadiBashira region, in the Western Desert of Iraq and activated by ultrasound to stimulate interaction between additives and OreBentonite. Exposing the Bentonite to ultrasound wavesleads to cavitation event by micro-bubbles. The growth and collapse of these micro-bubbles result in the transfer and focusing of energy from acoustic to the vapor inside the bubbles, then extremely high pressures and temperatures are generated in the vapor phase inside the bubble.This high concentration of energy has generated strong interaction between the free particles and significantly enhanced the chemical treatment. Caustic soda material has been successfully used to activate the natural Ore Bentonite, calcium type to sodium type. The success of this ion exchange was observed from schemes of infrared (FTIR) for activated Bentonite where showed a clear difference from those belonging to the OreBentonite, As well as the scanning electron microscope (SEM) explained that the ultrasonic irradiation led to obtain micro-scale structures of Bentonite, and there has been a significant improvement in the rheological properties of the activated Bentonite. Subsequent experiments showed that the addition of simple ratios of nanoparticles additives did not adversely affect the rheological properties, but it has improved the filtration property in line with the API specifications.The amount of additives by no more than 1.5% by weight with 4.5% by weight of caustic soda are best ratios obtained as outlined by experiments. Results of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) helped to know the chemical elements existing in OreIraqi Bentonite also made it clear the change in the proportions of the elements as a result of the activation process by a clear decrease in calcium element by approximately 90% of what is found in the OreBentonite, offset by an increase in sodium ratios. Accordingly, this method can be considered optimal effectiveness in promoting chemical activation process for the Ore Iraqi Bentonite lowest percentages of additives and economic largest positive returns.