Oil and gas industry

Postharvest spoilage of perishable crops such as okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and fish (Clarias gariepinus) remains a major challenge in Nigeria, leading to food waste, economic loss, and reduced availability of nutrient-rich food. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an effective preservative method for these commodities
and to monitor changes in their nutritional composition during storage by determining optimal preservative parameters, evaluating variations in key nutrients, including protein, carbohydrate, and vitamin C. Controlled oven-drying was carried out for the three samples at 60°C to ensure uniform heat transfer while preventing oxidative degradation. Moisture, protein, carbohydrate, and vitamin C contents were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Drying kinetics were studied using first-order reaction models, and the Arrhenius equation was used to estimate the activation energy (Ea) for moisture diffusion. These analyses provided insights into both drying efficiency and nutrient stability across the three samples. Results revealed that drying significantly reduced the moisture content of all samples, improving shelf life and reducing microbial activity. Protein content increased slightly in fish (24.72 to 25.61%), okra (2.73 to 2.75%), and tomato (1.62 to 1.65%) due to moisture concentration effects. Vitamin C decreased considerably, ranging from 40 to 80% losses, confirming its thermolabile nature, while carbohydrates remained largely stable. Fish further exhibited a distinct drying kinetics, following first-order behavior with drying rate constants (k) of 0.0153, 0.0189, and 0.0191 min⁻¹ at 60°C, 80°C, and 100°C, respectively. The calculated activation energy of 6.093 kJ/mol indicated a moderate energy requirement, suggesting that moisture removal occurred primarily through surface evaporation and mild internal diffusion. These findings demonstrate that moderate drying temperatures around 60°C can preserve nutritional quality while enhancing product stability, making them suitable for industrial processing in tropical environments while higher temperature i.e 100°C will result in higher moisture loss.

Drilling mud, also known as drilling fluid, is a vital component in the oil and gas industry. As the primary medium for drilling oil and gas wells, its importance cannot be overstated. However, in Nigeria, the procurement of drilling mud is often costly, as the required materials for its formulation are largely imported. This project investigates the suitability of a locally sourced clay, Iyi−Ogene, obtained from one of Nigeria’s numerous clay deposits, as a potential substitute to imported bentonite in drilling
mud formulation. The study aims to promote local material utilization, reduce import dependency, and minimize overall operational costs. Guided by API specifications, rheological properties of the local clay were determined upon preparation using standard procedures. Additionally, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was incorporated to some samples to enhance performance toward API standards. The results indicate that the local clay possesses promising potential for drilling mud formulation, provided adequate beneficiation and optimization of activation conditions are applied. The findings also emphasize the importance of maintaining optimal base concentration during chemical activation, as excessive amounts may yield adverse effects. Overall, this laboratory−based study demonstrates that certain local clays, when properly treated and modified with suitable additives, can perform comparably to imported bentonite. It further underscores the need for field−scale evaluation to validate laboratory results and support the wider adoption of local materials in drilling fluid formulation.