Review on Applications of Non-ionic and Anionic Surfactants in Water Based Drilling Fluids

In recent times, with the advent of exploSration activities in deeper hydrocarbon reserves, drilling of wells in HPHT conditions is one of the most studied field in the upstream oil and gas industry. Water-based fluids are the most common and frequently used drilling fluids oil and gas well construction. Although, water-based drilling fluids are environment friendly and relatively in-expensive, it is often associated with many problems when used in HPHT conditions. In order to overcome these problems in such viable conditions, modified surfactants are used with the mud to counteract the problems associated with it. This paper discusses the different applications of anionic and non-ionic surfactants in water-based drilling fluids both in laboratory and field scales. The paper also discusses the mechanisms of the surfactants and the effect on various mud properties to overcome hole problems like wellbore instability, rheology and filtration loss, foaming and flocculation of mud.