EFFECT OF NaOH

This research examines how Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) influences the flow characteristics of purified gum Arabic-based drilling mud formulations, positioning them as eco-friendly substitutes for conventional synthetic additives. The experiment involved developing seven initial formulations combining bentonite with different polymer systems: xanthan gum, gum Arabic, and mixtures of gum Arabic with either cocoyam starch or ginger extract in proportions of 50/50 and 75/25. Subsequently, selected formulations underwent alkaline modification using NaOH at measurements of 3.0g, 7.5g, and 15.0g to replicate varying pH environments. Flow behavior parameters encompassing plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), gel strength, and mud weight were determined through Fann viscometer measurements and evaluated against three mathematical model frameworks: Bingham Plastic, Power Law, and Herschel- Bulkley models. Experimental findings demonstrated that 50g of gum Arabic delivered comparable rheological characteristics to 1g of xanthan gum under neutral conditions. The introduction of alkaline treatment produced substantial modifications in fluid behavior, with response patterns dependent on both the specific polymer-starch pairing and alkalinity level. The most remarkable transformation occurred in the gum Arabic-cocoyam (50/50) formulation treated with 7.5g NaOH, which demonstrated PV of 65 cp and YP of 180 lb/100ft² corresponding to increases of 261% and 1025% respectively relative to the 3.0g NaOH variant. The gum Arabic-ginger combination displayed considerable viscosity nhancement (PV = 108 cp with 7.5g NaOH) yet revealed temporal degradation of gel structure at elevated alkalinity levels. Every alkaline-treated system manifested pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) characteristics with flow behavior indices (n) spanning 0.3 to 0.948, validating their appropriateness for drilling fluid applications. Comparative model analysis indicated that the Herschel-Bulkley model most accurately characterized the behavior of alkaline-modified natural polymer systems, whereas both Bingham Plastic and Power Law models exhibited substantial prediction errors, especially under high-alkalinity conditions. These results established that purified gum Arabic, when strategically combined with indigenous starches, (cocoyam & ginger) and subjected to pH optimization, represents a viable, environmentally degradable, and economically advantageous alternative to synthetic drilling fluid components, delivering ecological v advantages while preserving operational performance standards required for petroleum drilling activities.