Oil drilling in sensitive contact with water, becomes required the use of oil base drilling fluids. In these cases, organoclays are used, which are made from clay bentonite purified and treated with surfactants addition. The use of the hydrocyclone can be a effective tool and affordable for purifying clays in industrial scale. This work aims to study the purification of clays bentonite using a hydrocyclone, aiming to develop organoclays for use in oil base drilling fluids. The characterizations of the samples of clays - Brasgel PA and Chocolate - were performed using the techniques: laser diffraction granulometric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence chemical analysis. The characterization of organoclays obtained was accomplished through the follwing methods: XRD, TG and Foster swelling test modification. The results show that the purification process was effective in reducing impurities in the bentonite and organoclay treated with purified Praepagen WB and Imidazoline Oleic Vegetable shows Foster swelling values with, ester, diesel and paraffin higher than those obtained with organoclays without purification (natural) and showing greater affinity for the surfactant Praepagen WB.
hydrocyclone; organophilic clays; drilling fluids
