Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity

This study investigates the potential of Spirulina biomass as a lubricating additive for drilling fluid formulations. In this work, this waste protein is evaluated as a lubricant alternative that may decrease the coefficient of friction while improving the rheological profiles and/or reducing fluid...

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Main Authors: Garrett M. Thibodeaux, Nicholas A. Baudoin, William M. Chirdon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Lubricants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/4/149
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author Garrett M. Thibodeaux
Nicholas A. Baudoin
William M. Chirdon
author_facet Garrett M. Thibodeaux
Nicholas A. Baudoin
William M. Chirdon
author_sort Garrett M. Thibodeaux
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the potential of Spirulina biomass as a lubricating additive for drilling fluid formulations. In this work, this waste protein is evaluated as a lubricant alternative that may decrease the coefficient of friction while improving the rheological profiles and/or reducing fluid loss via permeation in drilling fluids. A processed and dried <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> (<i>Spirulina</i>) biomass is incorporated into drilling fluid formulations and compared to standard lubricant additives for the drilling fluid properties of lubricity, rheology, and fluid loss. Rheological characterization includes the determination of yield stress, gel strength, and viscosity measurements. The major findings of this study include a friction value reduction of up to 30% and a fluid loss reduction of up to 51% by using 3 vol.% <i>Spirulina</i>. Parameters were fit to two rheological models (Bingham plastic and Herschel–Bulkley). After experimentation and analyzing the data gathered, it was determined that <i>Spirulina</i> and the <i>Spirulina</i>–Coastalube mixture in drilling fluids are good potential candidates as more environmentally benign and cost-effective alternative technologies for drilling fluids for decreasing the coefficient of friction, which results in increasing the lubrication performance of the drilling fluids.
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spelling doaj-art-69f63d3e922349f2867d1eabb1f82bcf2025-08-20T02:28:24ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-03-0113414910.3390/lubricants13040149Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for LubricityGarrett M. Thibodeaux0Nicholas A. Baudoin1William M. Chirdon2Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USADepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USADepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504, USAThis study investigates the potential of Spirulina biomass as a lubricating additive for drilling fluid formulations. In this work, this waste protein is evaluated as a lubricant alternative that may decrease the coefficient of friction while improving the rheological profiles and/or reducing fluid loss via permeation in drilling fluids. A processed and dried <i>Arthrospira platensis</i> (<i>Spirulina</i>) biomass is incorporated into drilling fluid formulations and compared to standard lubricant additives for the drilling fluid properties of lubricity, rheology, and fluid loss. Rheological characterization includes the determination of yield stress, gel strength, and viscosity measurements. The major findings of this study include a friction value reduction of up to 30% and a fluid loss reduction of up to 51% by using 3 vol.% <i>Spirulina</i>. Parameters were fit to two rheological models (Bingham plastic and Herschel–Bulkley). After experimentation and analyzing the data gathered, it was determined that <i>Spirulina</i> and the <i>Spirulina</i>–Coastalube mixture in drilling fluids are good potential candidates as more environmentally benign and cost-effective alternative technologies for drilling fluids for decreasing the coefficient of friction, which results in increasing the lubrication performance of the drilling fluids.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/4/149<i>Spirulina</i>sustainabilityalgae biomasslubricitydrilling fluidsrheology
spellingShingle Garrett M. Thibodeaux
Nicholas A. Baudoin
William M. Chirdon
Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
Lubricants
<i>Spirulina</i>
sustainability
algae biomass
lubricity
drilling fluids
rheology
title Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
title_full Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
title_fullStr Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
title_full_unstemmed Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
title_short Proteinaceous Spirulina Biomass as a Sustainable Drilling Fluid Additive for Lubricity
title_sort proteinaceous spirulina biomass as a sustainable drilling fluid additive for lubricity
topic <i>Spirulina</i>
sustainability
algae biomass
lubricity
drilling fluids
rheology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/4/149
work_keys_str_mv AT garrettmthibodeaux proteinaceousspirulinabiomassasasustainabledrillingfluidadditiveforlubricity
AT nicholasabaudoin proteinaceousspirulinabiomassasasustainabledrillingfluidadditiveforlubricity
AT williammchirdon proteinaceousspirulinabiomassasasustainabledrillingfluidadditiveforlubricity