Rheological characterization of potassium carbonate deep eutectic solvent (DES) based drilling mud

Abstract Different additives are added in the drilling mud to increase its efficiency terms of rheology and filtration properties. Recently, application ionic liquids (ILs) has been exploited by various investigators as a additive for improving rheology. The more recent studies have shown that imidazolium-based (the most used class fluids) toxic. Moreover, advancement green chemistry put big question mark on greener nature because they non-biodegradable generally very expensive. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) non-toxic cheaper alternative possessing same qualities ILs. In our previous work, we potassium carbonate glycerol-based DES fluid additive. We found successfully improved properties mud. this current study, characterizations conducted understand underlying mechanism behind modifier. characterization shows improvement is due intercalation between alumino-silicate layers interaction with clay which alters edge face orientation sodium bentonite ultimately dispersion behaviour. addition decreases average grain size disperses particles slurry reduce overall permeability porosity filter cake thus behaviour based modelled at 25 °C 100 DES-based follows Herschel–Buckley model exhibits shear thinning even elevated temperature.