Title: Evaluation of rheological properties of beneficiated locally sourced mud using factorial design

Authors: Kazeem Kolapo Salam, Olugbade James Adeleye, Akeem Olatunde Arinkoola

Addresses: Petroleum Engineering Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. ' Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Mineral Resources Technology, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana. ' Petroleum Engineering Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract: This study evaluates the rheological properties of beneficiated mud using factorial design. Four-speed rheometer was used to determine the shear stress at different shear rates from which rheological properties were determined. The effect of increase in concentration of Gum Arabic and sodium carbonate on apparent viscosity at different mass of clay sample was investigated. Simultaneous increase in concentration of sodium carbonate and Gum Arabic at 22.5 g, 30 g and 40 g mass of clay sample lead to a tremendous increase in apparent viscosity in the range: 4.2 and 8.8 cp for 22.5 g; 5.25 and 13.7 for 30 g; as well as 5.25 and 28.8 for 40 g of sample. Result of the investigation show that there is a close agreement between the experimental and predicted data which are interpreted from the adjusted R-squared values of 0.994, 0.865 and 0.990 gotten for apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity and yield point models respectively. [Received: March 6, 2009; Accepted: March 18, 2010].

Keywords: beneficiation; beneficiated mud; rheological properties; rheology; factorial design; shear stress; gum arabic; sodium carbonate; viscosity; clay samples; yield point.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2010.033561

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2010 Vol.3 No.2, pp.144 - 159

Published online: 04 Jun 2010 *

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