Evaluating the stability of colloidal gas aphrons in the presence of montmorillonite nanoparticles

• For pores blocking of the rock in aphron drilling operation, stability of colloidal gas aphrons is a key factor.
• Stability of CGAs has been investigated in the presence of nanoparticles.
• A novel interpretation of drainage curve is introduced for deducing the synergetic effect of nanoclay on CGA stability.
• The presence of nanoclay has particular effect on behavior of surface tension of aqueous nanofluid.

To block rock pores in aphron drilling operation, colloidal gas aphrons (CGAs) stability is a key factor to minimize formation damage. Although the synergistic stabilization of aqueous foam by solid particles and surfactants has been extensively studied, there are few references for synergistic stabilization of CGAs. In this experimental study, stability of CGAs has been investigated in the presence of nanoparticles. CGAs dispersion were generated by stirring at 7000 rpm for 4 min in the presence of the nanoclay (Na-Montmorillonite). An anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and also a non-ionic surfactant, nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPE20) were used. The experimental macroscopic findings from the drainage curve observations were correlated to the microscopic behavior of CGAs. A novel analysis of drainage curve was introduced to examine synergistic effect of nanoclay on the CGA dispersion stability. This work concludes that nanoparticles influence the stability of CGAs dispersion and also nanoclays reduce the critical micelle concentration (CMC) in a surfactant solution.

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