Preparation of high quality drilling fluid additives using low-quality humic acid

The demand for higher-performance drilling fluids for drilling in HPHT conditions has necessitated the development of low-cost, eco-friendly drilling fluid additives, thereby establishing this as a critical research direction. In this study, (HA) was modified with acrylamide to enhance its performance as a drilling fluid additive. AMHA was evaluated for rheological properties, thermal stability, and inhibition performance. The results demonstrate that the AMHA exhibits thermal stability up to 180 °C and significantly reduces filtration loss in combination with pomegranate powder. The addition of guar gum further enhances the shear resistance of the drilling fluid. In addition, the AMHA exhibits comparable filtration control and rheological properties to those of commercial HA, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed modification method. This research offers a sustainable and efficient approach to optimize the performance of low-quality HA for drilling applications, thereby advancing the development of environmentally friendly drilling fluid systems.