USE POTENTIAL OF BIOGLYCERIN AS A BASIS FOR AQUEOUS DRILLING FLUIDS FORMULATION OF OIL AND GAS WELLS

摘要

The growing global concern about the environment associated with academic and government efforts are enabling a number of alternatives for sustainable development. Within this perspective one can include the search for value-added products using waste from renewable energy sources, such as those from the production of biodiesel. The rapid development of biodiesel production in Brazil directly affected the supply of glycerin and therefore the sector is seeking a market that can absorb this waste. Thus, with the increasing search for environmentally friendly products, formulation of a drilling fluid using a co-product of biodiesel production to replace the n-paraffin is of great importance to the oil industry for meeting the requirement of environmental regulation and, in addition, considerably reducing the cost of raw materials. In this context, the aim of this study was to characterize different glycerins to evaluate their potential as basis for drilling fluids for oil wells and gas. The glycerins were stable under the conditions evaluated without phase separation and precipitation of solids, exhibited good rheological profile and low value of interface tension. The results indicate a strong possibility of use of these glycerins as basis for drilling fluids and applicability by the oil industry.