Oily bioorganoclays in drilling fluids: Micro and macroscopic properties

The application of organoclays as an additive to improve the performance of oil-based drilling fluids has long been a subject of research. In this work, montmorillonite containing zinc cations was modified by lecithin to synthesize organic montmorillonite (ZnOMt), which was then dispersed in vegetable and mineral oils for the preparation of oil-based drilling fluids. Their viscoelastic properties were evaluated and linked to ZnOMt microstructure information obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). The nature of the oil used and the heating temperature are key parameters influencing the performance of oilbased drilling fluid. The favorable properties of vegetable oil-based drilling fluids containing organoclays provide great potential for their application in drilling engineering.