Designing Smart drilling fluids using modified nano silica to improve drilling operations in Geothermal wells

High pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions in geothermal wells have necessitated the need to develop thermally stable drilling mud systems combat potential complications. This is because fluids degrade under HPHT due effects. study therefore aims establish optimum concentration of a cationic surfactant that would successfully modify surface silica nanoparticles thereafter, evaluate performance modified nano as rheological filtration property enhancer water-based muds (WBMs). The nanoparticle was by adding Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solution. Different formulations containing with varying zeta values, SNP3 -S2, -S4, -S5, -S6, -S7 -17.7 mV, 20 28.2 35.4 37.1 mV respectively were investigated. Results showed highest absolute value enhanced rheology increased from 149°C 232 °C. optimal amount CTAB found be between 1.0 2.0 wt.%. Filtration loss reduced 11.4, 17.6, 29.5% on average for samples SNP3-S5, SNP3-S6, SNP3-S7, respectively, at all temperatures. Mud cake thickness 19.9, 11.6, 28.7% SNP3-S7