Investigating the effects of wood ash as an alkaline additive and deflocculant in water-based mud

  • Abdelaziz Belmahdi orcid

    Prudence Dimensions, Riyadh 133313, Saudi Arabia
  • Anas Elhederi orcid

    Faculty of Mining and Energy Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Article ID: 3999
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/mtr3999
Keywords: wood ash, drilling fluids, water-based mud, environmental sustainability, green additives

Abstract

The environmental impact of chemical additives used in drilling fluids has increased interest in sustainable alternatives. Wood ash, a byproduct of biomass combustion, represents a potential alkaline and rheological modifier for water-based drilling mud systems. This study investigates the performance of wood ash (45–75 μm) at concentrations of 2–8 wt% in bentonite-based water-based mud under both ambient and thermal (hot rolling) conditions. Results demonstrated a clear concentration-dependent response. Plastic viscosity and gel strength decreased progressively up to 6 wt%, indicating improved dispersion and reduced structural buildup. At 8 wt%, partial reversal of this trend was observed, suggesting excessive solids loading may counteract dispersion effects. Yield point values decreased from 6 to 3 lb/100 ft2 as concentration increased, confirming enhanced flowability. Wood ash effectively increased mud pH into the desired operational range (9–11) under ambient conditions, while higher concentrations under thermal aging approached the upper alkaline limit. Mud density remained stable (~8.7 lb/gal) across all concentrations, confirming that wood ash does not adversely affect hydrostatic pressure control. Thermal aging generally reduced rheological parameters due to structural weakening of the bentonite network, although moderate concentrations maintained relatively stable performance. The findings indicate that 4–6 wt% wood ash provides an optimal balance between rheological control and alkalinity enhancement. While promising as a sustainable additive, further investigation is required to evaluate extended filtration performance and compositional variability under field conditions. 

Published
2026-04-08
How to Cite
Belmahdi, A., & Elhederi, A. (2026). Investigating the effects of wood ash as an alkaline additive and deflocculant in water-based mud. Materials Technology Reports, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.59400/mtr3999
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Abdelaziz Belmahdi, Anas Elhederi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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