CHED 1405 |
| This project is mainly concerned with the effects of pressure on the stability of foams used as drilling fluids for oil and gas wells. Foams are an important drilling fluid because they have low densities and high viscosities. The low density of foam minimizes the pressure inside the well bore, this maintains underbalanced conditions. Also, the high viscosity of foam provides a good medium for cuttings transport. However, although studies have been performed to discover the stability of foams under ambient conditions, little is known of the effect of increased pressure on the stability of foam. In this project, a new apparatus was developed to allow more exact stability readings to be taken. It was shown that the new apparatus gives consistent data for differing foam qualities (70, 80, and 90%), with one percent surfactant (v/v), aqueous foam. These tests were run at room temperature at a pressure of 25 psig in the generator and 20 psig in the stability apparatus. The tests were a success in providing consistent data. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Physical Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |