Work

Eco-Friendly Filtrate Control in Drilling Fluids: Itaconic Acid-Grafted Corn Starch from Natural Organic Materials with Thermal and Salt/Calcium Resistance

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study developed a bio-based fluid loss reducer based on itaconic acid-grafted corn starch (IACS) for water-based drilling fluid systems. The product was synthesized through free radical graft copolymerization and characterized by FTIR, TGA, and SEM. In bentonite-based mud systems, IACS demonstrated excellent filtration control performance significantly superior to that of conventional fluid loss reducers such as PAM, CMC, and PAC. IACS exhibited outstanding temperature resistance, salt tolerance, and calcium contamination resistance. Particle size analysis revealed that IACS effectively dispersed bentonite particles to the nanoscale at elevated temperatures, preventing thermal aggregation. Mechanistic studies indicated that carboxyl groups introduced by the grafting reaction endowed IACS with strong adsorption capacity and hydration ability, forming a dense polymer network layer on clay particle surfaces. Environmental evaluation confirmed that IACS possessed moderate biodegradability and extremely low toxicity, meeting green drilling fluid additive requirements. This study provides new insights for developing high-performance, environmentally friendly fluid loss reducers.

Source: Polymers

DOI: 10.3390/polym18020244

Authors: Bin Wang, Junyi Liu, Zhongwen Song

Institution: Sinopec (China)

Language: English

Topic: Drilling and Well Engineering

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258