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G. R. Seetharaman and J. S. Sangwai
2 Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials
It was in 1959 when Richard Feynman coined the term “There is a plenty of room at
the bottom” that leads to the invention of a new technology called nanotechnology.
The materials involved in the revolution of nanotechnology are called nanomaterials
which are of 10
−9 m size. Owing to its exceptional property, like high surface to
volume ratio, nanoparticle found its application in almost all fields of engineering
and technology. The surface of nanoparticle offers greater area of chemical reactivity
and alters the quantum effects that lead to changes in optical, magnetic, electrical
and other substantial properties. Nanomaterials are extremely small in size, having
dimension from 1 to 100 nm or even less. For example, the one-dimensional nanomaterial is surface film, two dimension is strands or fibres, three dimension is particles
and the most common types of nanomaterials which found application in engineering and technology are nanotubes, dendrimers, quantum dots and fullerenes. There
are several approaches to produce nanomaterial of various sizes; they are top-down
and bottom-up approach. The nanomaterial should be dispersed in the base fluid and
used as a nanofluid in drilling operation.
2.1 Importance of Nanoparticles in Drilling Muds
Owing to deterioration of conventional drilling mud at HTHP, the drilling muds failed
to maintain the rheological properties. This results in loss of mud filtrate volume,
which subsequently leads to failure in drilling operation. Nanoparticles, such as metal
oxide, can support heat transfer from the drilling fluids by increasing the thermal conductivity. In addition, due to their extremely small size, nanoparticles plug the pores
of formation and reduce the mud filtrate volume. Nanoparticles, because of their large
free energy of adsorption, attach themselves to the interface between oil and water in
an emulsion (Agarwal et al. 2011). The rheological properties of the drilling fluids
are further enhanced due to the physiochemical, electrical and thermal properties of
the nanoparticles. Hassani et al. (2016) showed that quantum effects of nanoparticles in drilling fluids make many physical changes without altering the bulk chemistry. Comparing the performance of bulk phase material, nanoparticle enhances the
rheological properties, fluid loss control, wellbore and shale stabilization, wellbore
strengthening, cuttings suspension and thermal properties.
G. R. Seetharaman and J. S. Sangwai
2 Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials
It was in 1959 when Richard Feynman coined the term “There is a plenty of room at
the bottom” that leads to the invention of a new technology called nanotechnology.
The materials involved in the revolution of nanotechnology are called nanomaterials
which are of 10
−9 m size. Owing to its exceptional property, like high surface to
volume ratio, nanoparticle found its application in almost all fields of engineering
and technology. The surface of nanoparticle offers greater area of chemical reactivity
and alters the quantum effects that lead to changes in optical, magnetic, electrical
and other substantial properties. Nanomaterials are extremely small in size, having
dimension from 1 to 100 nm or even less. For example, the one-dimensional nanomaterial is surface film, two dimension is strands or fibres, three dimension is particles
and the most common types of nanomaterials which found application in engineering and technology are nanotubes, dendrimers, quantum dots and fullerenes. There
are several approaches to produce nanomaterial of various sizes; they are top-down
and bottom-up approach. The nanomaterial should be dispersed in the base fluid and
used as a nanofluid in drilling operation.
2.1 Importance of Nanoparticles in Drilling Muds
Owing to deterioration of conventional drilling mud at HTHP, the drilling muds failed
to maintain the rheological properties. This results in loss of mud filtrate volume,
which subsequently leads to failure in drilling operation. Nanoparticles, such as metal
oxide, can support heat transfer from the drilling fluids by increasing the thermal conductivity. In addition, due to their extremely small size, nanoparticles plug the pores
of formation and reduce the mud filtrate volume. Nanoparticles, because of their large
free energy of adsorption, attach themselves to the interface between oil and water in
an emulsion (Agarwal et al. 2011). The rheological properties of the drilling fluids
are further enhanced due to the physiochemical, electrical and thermal properties of
the nanoparticles. Hassani et al. (2016) showed that quantum effects of nanoparticles in drilling fluids make many physical changes without altering the bulk chemistry. Comparing the performance of bulk phase material, nanoparticle enhances the
rheological properties, fluid loss control, wellbore and shale stabilization, wellbore
strengthening, cuttings suspension and thermal properties.