Utilizing waste tire rubber as a circular-economy additive to improve the filtration performance of drilling fluids

This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing finely ground Recycled Auto Tire Rubber (RATR) as a circular economy additive to enhance the filtration performance of water based drilling fluids. The reuse of end of life tire rubber represents a green materials strategy that supports waste valorization, reduces industrial waste, and promotes sustainable resource utilization within energy-related engineering systems. RATR was incorporated into drilling fluids at concentrations ranging from 1.75 to 10.5 lb/bbl (5 to 30 kg/m 3 ) to evaluate its impact on rheological behavior and filtration characteristics. Rheological properties were measured using a conventional rotary viscometer, while filtration performance was assessed under both low pressure low temperature and high pressure high temperature conditions. Ceramic filter discs with mean pore throat sizes ranging from 10 to 250 μ m were employed to simulate highly permeable formations encountered during drilling operations. The results demonstrated that RATR significantly improved filtration control, achieving fluid loss reductions of up to 19.7% under low pressure low temperature conditions and up to 65% under high pressure high temperature conditions compared to conventional synthetic graphite. The drilling fluid rheological properties remained within acceptable operational ranges according to the literature, confirming compatibility with standard drilling practices. Beyond technical performance, the incorporation of RATR contributes to green and sustainable engineering by reducing reliance on energy intensive synthetic additives, diverting waste tires from landfills, and lowering the environmental footprint associated with drilling fluid materials. These findings highlight the potential of waste derived rubber as a viable low carbon alternative that supports circular economy principles and advances environmentally responsible industrial practices.