• K.O. Chike
• M.U. Obidiegwu
• C.S. Uzoukwu
• U.L. Ezeamaku
• N.C. Iheaturu, B.C. Aharanwa

Major problems have been encountered during drilling operation, most of which are; fluid loss, wellbore strengthening, well control, carrying capacity, torque and drag, stuck pipe, and others, which can result from the improper matching of drilling fluid properties. These problems occur due to dissimilarity in pressure, and temperature whose effect is mostly observed on the rheological properties. Drilling mud has proven to be modified over the years with researchers continuously working earnestly to produce a drilling mud of good drilling properties, environmental friendliness and less expensiveness. The main goal of this study is to develop a water-based drilling mud containing biodegradable polymer blend produced by Extrusion technique, with good temperature and pressure properties capable of surviving deep well temperature drilling. The experiment involved the formulation of new polymer mud from blend of guinea corn and popcorn starches tagged as G:P-Mud, where its values obtained from the experiment was compared to an already existing polymer mud tagged as CMS:HPS-Mud. At different temperature range (25°C, 180°C, 240°C, 300°C) and concentration of 0.03g/ml, the highest Sorptivity value was obtained to be 31.62 at 300°C for new starch polymer drilling mud (G:P-Mud) while that of chemically modified starch (CMS:HPS-Mud) was found to be 17.93. Fluid loss value for new polymer mud (G:P-Mud) at 300°C was obtained to be 266.00 while that of CMS:HPS-Mud was obtained as 736.00. It was deduced therefore that the new polymer drilling mud had a better filter cake property, filtration control behavior, thermal stability, good carrying capacity and lower fluid loss value than the chemically modified drilling mud. The experiment followed API standardized testing procedures for drilling equipment, drilling fluids and API recommended practices.

Corn, Drilling mud, Extrusion, Fluid loss, Polymer blend, Starch.

" ANALYTICAL STUDY OF NOVEL STARCH POLYMER BLEND FOR WATER-BASED DRILLING MUD APPLICATION ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no.a176-a185, December-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112022.pdf

" ANALYTICAL STUDY OF NOVEL STARCH POLYMER BLEND FOR WATER-BASED DRILLING MUD APPLICATION ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 12, page no. ppa176-a185, December-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2112022.pdf