COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF BANANA PEELS

AS pH ENHANCERS TO INHIBIT
CORROSION CAUSED BY WATER
BASED MUD
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The drilling of an oil and gas well is a major aspect of the upstream oil and
gas industry. It involves a complex combination of processes and equipment
to ensure a safe and successful operation. Majority of the equipment used in
the drilling process are metals and thereby vulnerable to corrosion (Boniface
and Kinigoma, 2011). Corrosion (the deterioration of a metal and its
properties) attacks every component at every stage in the life of every oil
and gas well (Brondel et al, 2012). Global Increase in energy demands gives
rise to increased activities of the upstream oil and gas industry. This results
in the drilling of deeper wells, use of higher strength steels, presence of
higher stresses, and use of lower pH drilling fluids. All these factors
contribute to increased susceptibility of metals to failure because of
corrosion (Bertness et al, 1989).

The corrosion of drill pipe, protective casing strings and other related
equipment is recognized as a serious problem in the upstream oil and gas
industry that requires control. Corrosion in various forms is the major cause

of drill pipe failures that add significantly to drilling costs (Bertness et al,
1989). In 1988, an estimation of the cost due to corrosion in the American oil
industry is about $850 million yearly (Okoye et al, 1988). The figure has risen
almost exponentially over the years. The current annual cost of corrosion to
the oil and gas industry in the United States alone is estimated at $27 billion
and the global annual cost to the oil and gas industry is estimated as
exceeding $60 billion dollars (NACE International, 2013). In addition,
corrosion commonly causes serious environmental problems, such as spills
and releases. As a result of the detrimental environmental, physical and
economical effects of corrosion, it is an adversary worthy of all high
technology and research we can throw at it.

The cause of corrosion in the drilling process is majorly due to the presence
of oxygen, carbon dioxide, acids and soluble salts (Murray and Holman,
1967; Bush, 1974). All of which are experienced one time or the other in the
drilling and completion phases of an oil or gas well. It is almost impossible to
completely eradicate corrosion; hence mitigation of the corrosion process is
the next best option. There are several methods for controlling corrosion;
they majorly involve protective coating of specific areas in exposed
equipment. This method, although very effective is not very economical and
it leaves the unprotected areas subject to corrosion (Bush, 1974). One major
way to battle corrosion in the drilling industry is with the use of drilling fluids.
The treatment of drilling fluid to combat corrosion provides the best common
medium for overall control (Bush, 1974).

Drilling fluids (also known as muds) are used to aid the drilling process; its
primary functions are to remove the drilled cuttings from the borehole whilst
drilling and to prevent fluids from flowing into the borehole from the
formations being drilled (Baker, 2003). Corrosion problems associated with
deep well drilling can be greatly minimized by the proper choice and control
of the drilling fluid formulation. Water base drilling fluids present corrosion
problems primarily because they are subject to contamination from corrosion
accelerators such as oxygen, carbon dioxide hydrogen sulfide or soluble salts
that are always present in varying quantities (B.W Bradley. 1970). Although,
Oil based drilling mud does not pose a significant corrosion threat, it is more
expensive and can cause serious environmental pollution during and after its
use (Neff et al, 2000). Consequently, for environmental and economic
reasons, it is more appropriate to use water based mud with improved
rheological properties to drill the major and insensitive formation sections of
a well.

Although, there are a lot of chemical and physical factors that combine to
induce the corrosion property in water based drilling mud. The major
chemical cause of corrosion is the pH property of the drilling fluid. The pH is
defined

as

the

negative

logarithm

of

the

hydrogen

concentration,

represented as [H+] in moles/liter (Doe, 1997). Drilling corrosion problems

become more severe from low pH of the water based drilling fluid (less than
7.0). It is necessary to maintain pH at a level of 9.5 or higher to minimize

corrosion attack (Murray and Holman, 1967). In order to attain and maintain
High pH, Water based drilling mud is treated with the use of an automatic
neutralizer or pH enhancer. Caustic potash and soda are some of the major
conventional pH enhancers currently used as pH control agents.

Nonetheless, due to environmental and economic constraints and in order to

aid local content. Several researches have been made to find cheaper and
cleaner pH enhancing agents with the use of indigenous materials.
Indigenous pH control agents tend to exhibit similar alkaline property on
drilling mud as Conventional pH enhancers and do not show significant
difference in strength (Boniface and Kinigoma, 2011 ; Agolo, 2014 ;
Omotioma et al, 2014). There have been substantial amount of experimental
researches to authenticate the pH enhancing abilities of banana peels
(Agolo, 2014; Boniface and Kinigoma, 2011). Notwithstanding, there has
been no experimental work to actually justify its ability to hinder or restrain
corrosion in water based drilling mud. Hence, authenticating banana peels as
a potential corrosion inhibitor, Also a probable future substitute for
conventional pH control agents.

The aim of this project is to experimentally analyze the effectiveness of

processed banana peels as a corrosion inhibitor (pH enhancer) in water
based drilling mud. Also, the comparative analysis of the effects of banana
peels on the rheological properties of water based mud is presented.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The corrosion of drilling equipment is a serious problem in the upstream oil
and gas industry that requires control. Corrosion in various forms is the major
cause of drill pipe failures that add significantly to drilling costs (Bertness et
al, 1989). The value of this cost towering to billions of dollars annually is
continuously increasing with expanse of the upstream oil and gas industry
operations.

An effective method and process is required to inhibit and control corrosion.

There are several methods for battling corrosion, most of which are
ineffective and uneconomical. The best method for combatting corrosion is
the treatment of drilling fluid (Bush, 1974). The pH controlling agents added
to water based mud to control

corrosion are expensive and non-

biodegradable, thereby leading to environmental degradation. Hence a

better, cheaper and effective Corrosion inhibiting agent is needed to
appropriately battle this problem. (Boniface and Kinigoma, 2011)

1.3 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION AND RELEVANCE

Boniface and Agolo independently carried out experiments in 2011 and 2014
respectively to verify the pH enhancing qualities of processed Banana peels,
the experiment were successful. However, there has been no experimental

work to actually justify its ability to inhibit corrosion in water based drilling
mud.

As a result of current global environmental problems, various experimental

researches have been carried out to replace the use of non-biodegradable
substances with biodegradable substances (Okorie, 2009). Following that
trend, this experimental project to analyze the effectiveness of banana peels
as corrosion inhibitors and its overall effect on the rheological properties of
water based mud is not only important but also critical to environment
pollution reduction. It is also essential and would aid local content
development of the country. This can also result in probable future
substitution of conventional pH control agents with Indigenous materials,
consequently reducing overall cost in drilling operations.

1.5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objective of this experimental project research is to

Carry out a comparative analysis of the effects of banana peels on the

rheological properties of water based mud.

Analyze and authenticate the effectiveness of processed banana peels
as a potential corrosion inhibitor in water based mud using weight loss
and electrode potential methods.

1.6 METHODOLOGY/SOLUTION APPROACH

The solution to the presented corrosion problem follows simple experimental

approach;

Prepare pH enhancer from Banana peels. (Group in various weights

from 0.5 to 2.5 grams)

Add the different weights of prepared pH enhancers to various samples

of constant weight water based drilling mud.

Measure rheological and chemical properties using a rheometer and pH

meter.
Insert various metal coupons in treated mud samples and measure

corrosion rate by weight loss and electrode potential method.

Compare corrosion rate with metal sample inserted in untreated mud.
Account for discrepancies and ascertain if corrosion rate was reduced
by the banana pH enhancer.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY AND LIMITATIONS.

There are several mechanical and chemical factors that contribute to the
overall corrosion effect of water based mud. This experimental project is
focused majorly on the chemical causative aspect of corrosion, which is the
pH of water based mud. Corrosion results may vary with different scenarios
and conditions.

Furthermore, as a result of the unavailability of necessary equipment to carry

out the actual corrosion test; that depicts and simulates deep well dynamic
conditions and parameters (high temperature and pressure). All experiments
would be carried out at room temperature in static conditions. Nonetheless,
it should be noted that corrosion rate varies with temperature and pressure.

Notwithstanding this experimental process and solution approach is a close

approximate of the actual performance of the pH inhibitor in real life well
conditions.

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