COCONUT FIBRE

In the present-day oil and gas industry, the chemicals commonly employed as pH controllers in drilling operations are largely imported at exorbitant costs. These high costs contribute significantly to the overall drilling expenditure and create rippleeffects on the national economy. Hence, there is a pressing need to identify and develop locally available substitutes that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This study focuses on investigating the suitability of burnt coconut fibre, a readily available agricultural by-product in Nigeria, as a pH enhancer in drilling mud formulations. The research methodology involved the preparation of water-based mud samples treated with different concentrations of coconut fibre solution, alongside conventional additives such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for comparison. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine pH variation, rheological properties, and mud density under controlled conditions. The performance of the coconut fibre was evaluated based on its ability to increase and stabilize mud alkalinity while maintaining desirable drilling fluid characteristics. The results revealed that burnt coconut fibre imparted a significant pH value of approximately 13.0 in the drilling mud, which is comparable to the 13.8 obtained with sodium hydroxide. Additionally, the coconut fibre showed potential in enhancing rheological properties, such as yield point and gel strength, while also exhibiting ecofriendly and biodegradable characteristics. These findings demonstrate that coconut fibre can serve as a viable supplement to imported chemical additives, thereby reducing dependency on foreign products, lowering drilling costs, and supporting sustainable resource utilization