Title: Review: Sustainable Periwinkle Shell Powder Applications in Enhancing Water-Based Drilling Mud Properties for High-Pressure, High-Temperature Drilling Operations
Authors: Eniye Oguta, Isaac Eze Ihua-Maduenyi
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 45-59
Publication Date: 2025/03/28
Abstract:
The paper explores the potential benefits of utilizing periwinkle shell powder (PSP) as a sustainable additive to optimize water-based drilling fluid performance. PSP, primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO?), exhibits multifunctional properties that improve critical mud parameters such as filtration loss control, loss circulation control, rheological behavior modification, pH enhancement, and weighting capability. The review critically analyzes the performance of PSP in comparison to conventional synthetic additives, highlighting its capacity to maintain desirable mud characteristics under varying operational conditions, including its influence on plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength. The findings indicate PSP offers both economic and environmental advantages over commercial substitute drilling fluid additives. Economically, PSP offers a cost-effective alternative to synthetic additives like Poly Anionic Cellulose (PAC), reducing reliance on expensive imports and curbing capital flight in drilling operations. Environmentally, the adoption of PSP promotes sustainable waste management by repurposing the periwinkle shells, which is commonly discarded as waste material in coastal regions. The utilization of PSP not only mitigates environmental pollution but also presents a strategic advantage for energy companies to leverage on locally available resources. Furthermore, this approach has the potential to boost indigenous revenue generation in Nigeria by establishing an indigenous supply chain for drilling fluid additives, thereby reducing dependence on foreign chemicals. The paper emphasizes the dual benefits of PSP as both a technical and economic solution, with promising implications for the future of sustainable drilling operations.