Abstract

The large amount of petroleum coke produced in Venezuela, leadsed to its use as a filtering controller in oil-based fluids. Initially, the coke was subjected to an oil extraction process using the Soxhlet method and extraction of sulfur by means of microwaves. Then an infrared Spectroscopy (IR) was performed and compared with another spectroscopy of natural petroleum coke, where the effectiveness of the applied process was evidenced. Were made, four (4) drilling fluid (12 ppg) with coke as filter driver, varying its concentration in 6, 8, 10 and 12 lb / bl and after dynamic aging (300 ° F, 100 lpcm) the physical properties of plastic viscosity, yield point, gel 10 s, gel 10 min and filtrate were studied, obtaining a range of values of 25.3-26.3; 5.7-6.3; 4-5; 7-10 and 10.3-10.9 respectively. A statistical study of split plots demonstrated that there were significant statistical differences between the physical properties of the formulated fluids and the physical properties of a standard fluid with lignite as a filtering controller. It was concluded that despite the statistical differences presented, the use of petroleum coke as a filter controller for the conditions under study is possible.