Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Committee Chair

H. Ilkin Bilgesu

Committee Co-Chair

Sam Ameri

Committee Member

Kashy Aminian

Abstract

Chemical interactions occur between water based muds and shale formations. These shale-fluid interactions are often associated with problems that arise when drilling. This paper presents results from a study investigating chemical interactions that occurred between the Marcellus shale and attapulgite and bentonite clays. The aim of this project was to determine if there were particular elemental changes that could be directly associated with either an attapulgite or bentonite clay. In this study, samples from two wells in West Virginia were analyzed. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to observe the surface of each sample, and an INCA X-Ray Microanalysis System (EDX) provided a quantitative chemical composition analysis of the samples as well. There is large mineralogical variability among the Marcellus shale thus leading to variation among the mineral composition of the studied samples.

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