| The purpose of this work was to study the flocculation and settling properties of synthetic-based drilling fluids (SBFs) associated with drilling cuttings in both freshwater and seawater and provide more appropriate equations for existing transport models.; A digital imaging system was employed in this research to study the flocculation and settling processes. The effects of particle shape and size on the settling mechanism and the effects of salinity, fluid shear, discharge concentration and oily components on the rate of flocculation and the settling speeds of flocs were studied.; The cutting sample for this study was collected from an exploration oil well in the east coast of Canada. The settling velocities of coarse particles from both untreated and thermally treated cuttings were measured in a 2.5m high and 14cm inner diameter Plexiglas settling column using both freshwater and seawater. The flocculation of fine grain particles was performed using a laboratory paddle stirrer in both freshwater and seawater. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
