Formulation and Evaluation of Drilling Fluids from Waste Engine Oil and Algae-Based Surfactants

• Amina N. IBRAHIM

  Author

• Petrus NZEREM

  Author

• Mojeed O. OLOGUN

  Author

In this study, formulation and characterization of drilling muds based on treated waste engine oil and surfactants extracted from algae have been carried out as potential environmentally friendly substitute for conventional drilling fluid. Characteristics of waste engine oil and algae biomass were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of functional groups such as hydrocarbon, alcohol, and carbonyl in waste engine oil and lipids, proteins and carbohydrates in algae biomass. Elements found from EDX analysis were the necessary elements for extraction of surfactants. Surfactants were extracted from algae biomass and used in making four types of drilling muds which are conventional drilling mud (mineral oil and bentonite), algae-mineral oil mud, algae-waste engine oil mud and waste engine oil mud without surfactants. Characterization of these drilling muds was done based on their pH, density, viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point and gel strength. On the other hand, waste engine oil mud lacking the surfactant did not perform well rheologically. Algae surfactants greatly improved viscosity, yield point, and gel strength, which improved cuttings carrying and suspension abilities of drilling muds. Graphically, non-Newtonian and shear thinning behavior were observed in the samples, which is an indication of the efficient drilling mud. Density and pH values differed between the samples but all values were still within acceptable limits. The results clearly indicate that algae surfactants are capable of greatly improving the rheological properties and performance of drilling mud.

• 58_Ibrahim et al. (2026)

Copyright (c) 2026 Amina N. IBRAHIM, Petrus NZEREM, Mojeed O. OLOGUN (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.