Evaluation of the Potential of Watermelon Rind as a Ph Enhancer for Water-Based Drilling Fluid

Abstract How effectively drilling mud's qualities, such as pH, mud weight, viscosity, etc. are maintained determines how successful it is. Therefore, it is essential to choose drilling fluids, additives, and its composition carefully. The urgent need for product substitution, cost cutting, waste management, and environmental protection was connected with this study project. This research attempted to determine whether potassium hydroxide might be replaced by watermelon rinds (KOH). Watermelon rinds are a common household waste that is commonly available, easily accessible, and biodegradable. They also contain a high amount of potassium. The method used to synthesize KOH from the watermelon rind is caustification of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) from calcining of processed watermelon rind (dried and pulverized). A laboratory barrel of water-based mud was prepared using Wyoming bentonite clay. The produced additives from the watermelon rinds were added to the mud at different concentrations. The results obtained from the experiments conducted showed that the values pH values for synthesized KOH gave comparable results to the commercial KOH. The pH increase was 8.62%, 12.06%, 24.25% and 39.31% for watermelon rind (processed rind), ash, synthesized potassium carbonate and synthesized KOH respectively at maximum concentration. The four additives used increased filtrate loss and mud cake thickness, the rheological properties and mud weight of the mud. In conclusion as a pH enhancer, the synthesized KOH from watermelon rind is suitable and also has secondary effects on mud weight, filtration properties and rheological properties.