%0 Journal Article
%@ 00986445
%A Jassim, L.
%A Yunus, R.
%A Rashid, U.
%A Rashid, S.A.
%A Salleh, M.A.
%A Irawan, S.
%A Ghaemi, F.
%D 2016
%F scholars:7985
%I Taylor and Francis Ltd.
%J Chemical Engineering Communications
%K Catalysts; Drilling fluids; Esters; Oil well drilling; Rheology; Surface properties; Transesterification, Central composite designs; Commercial products; Hydrolytic stability; Optimum conditions; Reaction temperature; Response surface methodology; Rheological property; Trans-esterification methods, Well drilling
%N 4
%P 463-470
%R 10.1080/00986445.2015.1023300
%T Synthesis and optimization of 2-ethylhexyl ester as base oil for drilling fluid formulation
%U https://khub.utp.edu.my/scholars/7985/
%V 203
%X A stable ester was synthesized to overcome the ester hydrolysis problem during the drilling of oil or gas wells using a conventional ester-based drilling fluid. The thermal and hydrolytic stability of the produced ester was high owing to the transesterification method employed in this study. The reaction was performed using 2-ethylhexanol and methyl laureate esters in the presence of sodium methoxide as a catalyst. In order to obtain the optimum synthesis conditions, a response surface methodology (RSM) was appraised based on the central composite design (CCD). The optimum conditions were determined as follows: 0.6 wt. catalyst, 70°C reaction temperature, 1:1.5 molar ratio, and 11.5 min of reaction time. The results of 77 wt. 2-ethylhexyl ester (2-EH) illustrated a high agreement between the experimental and RSM models. The reaction product contained 77 wt. 2-EH and 23 2-ethylhexanol. The kinematic viscosity was 5mm2/s at 40°C and 1.5mm2/sec at 100°C; the specific gravity was 0.854, flash point was 170°C, and pour point was -7°C. The produced product showed similar properties to the available commercial product. However, it was observed that the mud formulation using the synthesized base oil had superior rheological properties at 121°C. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
%Z cited By 11