Sławomir Wysocki

An analysis of the possibilities of using new types of polymeric inhibitors in the technology of drilling fluids in shale formations

The paper presents an overview of the currently used inhibited drilling fluids with the ability to reduce the hydration of the shale. Based on literature data the possibility of using drilling muds in shale formations was analysed. The rest of the article presents the results of research intended to select new chemicals used as inhibitors of the hydration of rocks in drilling muds for drilling in shale. In this study agents such as a new type of polyglycol, an alkoxy derivative of butanol and an amine compound were used. New types of inhibitors were used in the composition of drilling fluids developed for drilling in shale. The carried out investigations of thermal resistance, resistance to pollution with mono- and multivalent ions, and studies on their impact on the disintegration of Miocene shale have shown that the developed muds have suitable technological parameters, are resistant to pollution with bivalent metal ions and temperature, and provide effective protection against Miocene shale hydration up to 100%. The investigations were performed under the Blue Gas project.