Funct. Mater. 2025; 32 (4): 601-611.
Synthesis and properties of high temperature rheology modifier for high density synthetic-based drilling fluids
1 School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, People′s Republic of China
2 China Oilfield Services Limited, Tianjin, 300459, People‘s Republic of China
A low-molecular-weight fatty acid amide-based rheology modifier, HRM, suitable for use at high temperatures was synthesized by reacting a dimeric fatty acid with 2-amino-1,3-propanediol in a 1:1.5 molar ratio. It was designed to address the insufficient sag resistance of high-density synthetic drilling fluids at high temperatures. Structural characterization, mechanism analysis, and performance evaluation were also conducted. The results of thermogravimetric analysis and emulsion stability showed that HRM has excellent thermal stability below its decomposition threshold of 307 °C, and it can adsorb at the oil-water interface, effectively reducing interfacial tension and enhancing the demulsification voltage and the emulsification rate. HRM effectively improved the structural strength of the synthetic-based drilling fluid system by bridging the emulsion droplets to form a gel-like network structure, thereby effectively improving solid-phase suspension ability and settlement stability.
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