Bentonites from Boa Vista, Brazil: physical, mineralogical and rheological properties

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Bentonites from Boa Vista, Brazil: physical, mineralogical and rheological properties

Luciana Viana AmorimI, ^*; Cynthia Morais Gomes^I; Helio de Lucena Lira^I; Kepler Borges França^II; Heber Carlos Ferreira^I

^IDepartamento de Engenharia de Materiais, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

^IIDepartamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande Av. Aprígio Veloso, 882, 58109-970, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to characterize physically and mineralogically six samples of natural and industrialized bentonites from Paraíba, Brazil, and to study its rheological properties to be used as a components of water based drilling fluids. Also it is intended to compare the evolution of the mineralogical composition and rheology of these clays after 40 years of exploitation. The natural bentonite clays were transformed into sodium bentonite by addition of concentrated Na₂CO₃ solution. The suspensions were prepared with 4.86% w/w to measure their rheological properties (apparent and plastic viscosities and water loss). The results showed that: i) the samples present typical mineralogical compositions of bentonites, but after four decades of exploitation, presents inferior quality and ii) among the clays samples, only one presented satisfactory rheological properties be used as a components of water based drilling fluids.

Keyword: Bentonite, mineralogical characterization, rheology, drilling fluids

1. Introduction

The name bentonite was suggested initially to the plastic clays found in Fort Benton, Wyoming, USA. These clays present the property of increasing several times its initial volume in the presence of humidity. They are composed, predominantly, of smectite clay minerals, and it is usually sodium and calcium montmorillonites¹.

The bentonites are included in the class of the minerals with larger industrial interest. According to Murray², the several industrial applications of these clays are due to its physical and chemical properties (such as, high surface area and cation exchange capacity). They are traditionally applied in oil well drilling mud, as a bonding agent for foundry molding sands, pelletizing iron ores, sealants, animal feed bonds, bleaching clay, agricultural carriers, pet litter adsorbents, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, emulsion stabilizers, desiccants, catalysts, cosmetics and paint, and, recently, it has been used in nanocomposites. The importance of these practical applications is related to rheological properties³. Sodium montmorillonite clay is particularly of interest due to its high swelling capacity and formation of a gel-like structure at relatively low clay concentrations⁴.

Research performed in the early 90's by the Bureau of Mines of the U.S.A, showed that the sum of bentonite deposits in the world is about 1.36 billion tons, and the U.S.A. has more than 50.0% of the total⁵. In Brazil, the bentonites can be found in relatively small deposits. The most important one is located in the northeast of Brazil, Paraíba State, in the city of Boa Vista (Fig. 1). These clays were discovered in the beginning of the 60's and the first studies showed that these clays were naturally polycationic and could be transformed into sodium bentonites with rheological properties in accordance with the specifications of American Petroleum Institute - API. It was verified that these clays were composed of the clay minerals montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite and mixed layers of illite-montmorillonite and quartz. Also it was established that when these clays are treated with a concentrated sodium carbonate solution it is possible to obtain sodium bentonites capable to substitute the natural sodium bentonites imported by Brazil⁶. An extensive study related with the treatment of these clays with sodium carbonate was done, and resulted in 18 different processes⁷.

In the 70's and 80's decades research was carried out in the Federal University of the Paraíba-UFPB^8-14 and in the University of São Paulo-USP^15,16 with the objective to develop techniques of ionic exchange treatment to improve the rheological properties of these clays.

The origin of the clays from Boa Vista-PB was studied by Gopinath et al.¹⁷ and showed that these clays are alterations of glassy material, derived from volcanic ash. Years later, in 1988, the same authors showed that these clays are composed of montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, quartz and feldspar and can be labeled bentonite¹⁸.

With the discovery of these bentonites Brazil gradually started to produce bentonites in the sodium and calcium forms, supplying the demands of the internal market. According to the National Department of Mineral Production - DNPM, the amount of natural and treated (sodium bentonite) clays produced in the Paraíba State represents 96.0% of the national production and 74.0% of this amount is produced in Campina Grande City, Paraiba State and 4.0% is produced in the São Paulo State⁵.

The drilling fluids, also called muds, are used in the oil wells drilling process to remove cuttings, to keep formation fluids confined to their formations, to lubricate the bit, and to build an impervious coating on the wall of the hole in order to impede the penetration of water from the drilling fluid into the formation¹. According to Caenn and Chillingar¹⁹, the water based drilling fluids are used all over the world, in most of the perforations. Petrobras, the Brazilian Petroleum Company, uses water based drilling fluids with bentonite clay in onshore and offshore perforations. Almost all of this clay comes from Boa Vista City, Paraíba State.

Nowadays, after 40 years of exploitation some different type of clays from Boa Vista, PB become exhausted and others become rare, such as Chocolate clay having good properties. On the other hand there are some clays found in great amount such as Bofe e Verde-lodo but with inferior quality.

The objectives of this work are: i) to characterize physically and mineralogically three samples of natural bentonites from Boa Vista City, Brazil and three industrialized samples; ii) to study the rheological properties of these clays to be used as thixotropic agents for water based drilling fluids and iii) to carry out a comparative study of the evolution of the mineralogical composition and rheology of these clays after 40 years of exploitation.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Bentonites

Three samples of natural bentonites were studied, from Boa Vista City, Paraíba State, Brazil, namely locally as Bofe, Chocolate and Verde-lodo. Three samples of industrialized bentonites in the sodium form, supplied by local industries and identified as Dolomil, Brasgel and Brasgel PA, were also studied. The natural clays were dried at 60 ± 2 °C for a period of 7 days, milled and screened in a ASTM 200 (aperture size of 0.074 mm) sieve.

2.2. Physical and mineralogical characterization

The water content and the particle size were evaluated according to the Brazilian norm N-2605²⁰. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the surface area were determined by the method of methylene blue adsorption²¹.

The chemical composition of the clays was analyzed according to the methods developed by the Laboratory of Mineral Analyses (LAM), Center of Sciences and Technology (CCT), Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Brazil²².

Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were obtained with a BP Engenharia equipment, model BP 3000, operating at a rate of 12.5 °C/min and maximum temperature of 1000 °C. For DTA calcined aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) was used as a reference powder.

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the natural and industrialized samples and treated with ethylene glycol were obtained with a Diffractometer Siemens/Brucker, model AXS D5005, with CuKa radiation (l = 1.54056 Å).

Infrared spectrums were obtained with a Nicolet Avatan equipment, model 360, operating in the range of 4000-400 cm^-1. The sample powders were tested in the form of a disc by pressing using potassium bromide (KBr).

Transmission electron micrographs were obtained with a TEM Philips CM 200 equipment, operating at 200 kV.

2.3. Transformation of natural bentonites into sodium bentonites

The natural clays were treated with Na₂CO₃ concentrated solution (200 g/L) in proportions of: 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175 meq/100 g of dry clay for the sample Bofe, and 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 meq/100 g of dry clay for the sample Chocolate and Verde-lodo. After, the samples were cured for a period of 5 days in humid chamber, according to the process developed by Zandonadi et al.⁷.

2.4. Preparation of suspensions

The suspensions of the natural clays treated with a Na₂CO₃ solution and the industrialized clays in a concentration of 4.86% w/w were prepared according to the Petrobras standards N-2605²⁰. After, the suspensions remain for a period of 24 h in a humid chamber, at 100% of relative humidity.

2.5. Determination of the rheological properties

The rheological properties of the suspensions were carried out according to the Petrobras standards N-2605²⁰. The apparent viscosity (AV) and plastic viscosity (PV), were measured by using a Fann viscosimeter, model 35A, and the water-loss (WL) through a filter paper, was determined by using a filter press Fann model. The pH was evaluated by using a digital pH meter, Analyser model.

3. Results and Analysis

3.1. Physical and mineralogical characterization

3.1.1. Water content and particle size

According to the Petrobras specification N-2604²³, the water content of the natural and activated clays should not exceed the maximum of 14.0%. Through the data contained in the Table 1, it is observed that all the samples presented water contents below the maximum, with exception of the samples Chocolate and Brasgel PA.

In relation to the particle size, the samples Bofe and Verde-lodo contained the smallest amount of coarser grains (> 74 µm). According to the Petrobras standards N-2604²³, all samples contained particle sizes below the specification (< 4.0%).

3.1.2. Cation exchange capacity and surface area

The values of the cation exchange capacity ranged from 76 meq/100 g of clay for the sample Bofe, to 104 meq/100 g of clay for the samples Brasgel and Brasgel PA. The surface area ranged from 593 m²/g for the sample Bofe to 811 m²/g for the samples Brasgel and Brasgel PA (Table 2); these values are typical for bentonites²⁴. The industrialized samples presented larger values of CEC and specific area; this behavior is due to the fact that these clays are in the sodic form and are easily dispersed.

3.1.3. Chemical analysis

The loss on ignition (LI) represents the loss of inserted water, water from hydroxyl groups on the clay minerals, organic matter and carbonates²⁴. The loss on ignition ranged from 8.59%, for the sample Brasgel PA, to 20.47%, for the sample Chocolate (Table 3). Fe₂O₃ ranged from 6.83%, for the sample Bofe, to 8.78%, for the sample Verde-lodo (Table 3). The amounts of Fe₂O₃, are derived from the crystalline lattice of illite, that contains about 4% to 6% of Fe₂O₃, and from the clay minerals of the smectite group, that is, montmorillonite or members from the series nontronite-beidellite, according to Souza Santos²⁴.

All samples included traces of calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO). The MgO content of Brasgel PA, was 3.00%. The sample Verde-lodo contained 1.99% of K₂O, which is more than the other samples.

3.1.3. Thermal analysis

The differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric curves of the clays are presented in Fig. 2. They are similar and typical for bentonites. The differential thermal curves present endothermic peaks characteristic of adsorbed water and hydroxyl groups from the clay mineral structure. Also the curve presents endo-exothermic peaks characteristic from formation of a or b-quartz of mullite. The thermogravimetric curve presented a slope related to the loss of hygroscopic water and hydroxyl groups.

The samples Bofe, Chocolate and Verde-lodo present undulations at approximately 220 °C, 240 °C and 230 °C, respectively. These are due to the presence of water coordinated to calcium and magnesium. This confirms the nature of polycationic clays. It was also observed that all the samples presented an endothermic band between 500 °C and 650 °C, characteristic of the hydroxyl loss of bentonite rich in iron.

3.1.4. X-ray diffraction

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the samples (Fig. 3) presents typical diffractograms of bentonite, with a presence of clay minerals from the smectite group. These are confirmed by the change of its characteristic peak, after treatment with ethylene glycol, from 14-15 Å to 17 Å. All the samples presented a peak at 3.35 Å, characteristic of the presence of the quartz. For the sample Verde-lodo (Fig. 3) a peak at 7.19 Å was observed, characteristic of kaolinite and a band between 4.55 Å and 4.35 Å, with superposition of peaks, characteristic of kaolinite, illite and clay minerals from the smectite group, probably montmorillonite or member from the nontronite-beidellite series.

3.1.5. Infrared spectroscopy

The infrared spectrums of the clay samples are presented in Fig. 4. The spectra of the samples are quite similar, with Si-O-Si stretching vibration band that manifests at 1039.8 cm^-1, O-H stretching bands situated at 3626.25 cm^-1 and 3425.08 cm^-1 and a stretching and bending vibration of hydration water that are manifested at 1635 cm^-1. The set of the weak bands, which occurred in the range 920-550 cm^-1 is ascribed to R-OH vibrations. According to Mendioroz et al.²⁵, the octahedral layers occurred at 920, 800 and 525 cm¹. According to Srasra et al.²⁶, the tetrahedral bending modes of Al-O-Si, Si-O, Si-O-Mg and Si-O-Si of the clay minerals occurred at 545, 472 and 429 cm^-1, respectively.

3.1.6. Transmission electron microscopy

The micrographs of the samples (Fig. 5) presented typical aspects of clay minerals from the smectite group, with irregular profile particles, undefined shape and great tendency to present curled edges, probably due to small plate diameter. Also, some irregular flake-shaped aggregates can be seen due to the attraction between the particles. In the micrograph (Fig. 5c) for sample Verde-lodo particles with hexagonal profile and lath-shapes can be observed, indicating the presence of kaolinite and illite, respectively, confirmed by X-ray results.

3.2. Rheological behavior

The rheological properties of the bentonite suspensions are given in Table 4. The increase in the proportion of Na₂CO₃ provide to the dispersions prepared with the natural clays an increase on apparent viscosity (AV) and decrease on plastic viscosity (PV) and water loss (WL), except for the sample Bofe, where PV did not present significant variations. This behavior shows the capacity of the natural clays to transform to the sodic form. The amount of Na₂CO₃ that gave best results was: 150 meq/100 g of dry clay, for the sample Bofe; 75 meq/100 g of dry clay, for the sample Chocolate; and 100 meq/100 g of dry clay, for the sample Verde-lodo.

Comparing the results presented in the Table 4 with the Petrobras specifications²⁰, it was observed that: i) the dispersions with Bofe presented values of AV lower than the minimum (15 cP). For the Chocolate and Verde-lodo samples AV were greater than 15 cP, except for Chocolate treated with 50 meq/100 g of dry clay and Verde-lodo treated with 50 and 75 meq/100 g of dry clay; ii) for PV, only the dispersions with Bofe clay, treated with all different proportions of Na₂CO₃, and Verde-lodo, treated with 50 meq/100 g of dry clay, presented values in agreement with the specifications, however very close to the minimum value (4.0 cP); and iii) among the studied clays, only Chocolate, treated with all proportions of Na₂CO₃, and Bofe, treated with 150 and 175 meq/100 g of dry clay, presented values of WL below the maximum (18.0 mL), according to Petrobras specifications²⁰. The pH values were close to the maximum value (10.0).

For industrialized clays the apparent viscosity changed from 8.3 cP for the sample Brasgel to 16.1 cP for the sample Brasgel PA. For the plastic viscosity the values change from 4.0 cP, for Brasgel PA to 5.0 cP, for Brasgel. The water loss changes from 20.5 mL, for the samples Dolomil and Brasgel, to 16.3 mL, for the sample Brasgel PA. The values of pH were close to 9.8, for all the samples. Comparing these results with the specifications²⁰ for water based drilling fluids, it was observed that the values of AV presented by the suspensions prepared with the industrialized clays were inferior to the Petrobras specifications (15 cP)²⁰, except for the suspensions prepared with the sample Brasgel PA that presented AV equal to 16,1 cP. The values obtained to PV, are in agreement with the specifications, however very close of the minimum value (4.0 cP); except for the sample Brasgel (5.0 cP). For WL, only the suspensions prepared with the sample Brasgel PA presented values below the maximum (18.0 mL). In relation to the pH values, all the samples presented results close to the maximum value (10.0).

4. Discussion

The water content of the samples is very low when compared with the Petrobras specifications (maximum 14%)²⁰ and can cause hydration problems if the clays is dry in high temperatures (above 60 °C). According to Souza Santos²⁴, the hydration of the bentonite could be related with the presence of the potassium in its structure. During the dry process, when the interlayer water is excluded, the clays containing potassium can acquire a crystalline structure similar to muscovite mica. This modification hinders the water penetration between the layers. Consequent suspension of the clay in water causes small values of apparent and plastic viscosities. Among the studied clays, only the Verde-lodo sample presented a high content of K₂O (1.99%), which can affect the rheologic properties. The amount of K₂O in this sample is several times superior than when it was discovery, according to the Souza Santos⁶ results. The calcium, magnesium and sodium oxides of the natural clays also differ from the results presented by Souza Santos 30 years ago, and are inferior when compared with today results. The amounts of Na₂O and loss on ignition were superior. Also it is important to say the amount MgO decrease from 3.5% to traces.

The thermodifferential curves and X-ray diffraction of the natural (Bofe, Verde-lodo and Chocolate) and industrialized clays confirm that these sample are predominantly composed of clay minerals of the group of the smectite, probably montmorillonites or members of the series nontronite-beidellite. All the samples contained quartz in its composition. The sample Verde-lodo contained illite and kaolinite. The presence of these clay minerals can affect the process of sodium transformation of bentonites, and consequently influence its rheological behavior. The presence of clay minerals montmorillonites in all the samples and illite and kaolinite in the sample Verde-lodo was confirmed by the electron micrographs. The mineralogical composition of the studied clays is similar to the clays studied by Souza Santos⁶ 30 years ago.

The natural clays, after treated with a Na₂CO₃ solution, can be transformed into sodium form, with rheological properties that do not satisfy the specifications of Petrobras²⁰, to be used as water based drilling fluids. The reasons for this are probably due to the presence of calcium and magnesium, as bicarbonates, in the suspensions. The calcium and magnesium bicarbonates present high solubility and, when in solution, they are dissociated liberating the cations calcium and magnesium and can occupy the sodium positions in the structure of the clay, with reversible cation exchange. Although the mineralogical compositions of the clays are similar to the ones tested, the rheological properties showed that the clays do not present the same values of apparent and plastic viscosities. In some samples the presence of other minerals and/or non-montmorillonite clay minerals, probably contributed to its behavior with flocculated structure and gel formation of the suspensions.

Among the industrialized clays, only the sample Brasgel PA presented rheological properties in agreement with the Petrobras specifications²⁰.

5. Conclusions

The study of the physical, mineralogical and rheological properties of three samples of clays natural bentonites and three industrialized ones from Boa Vista, Brazil, led to the following conclusions:

• the physical properties presented by the samples are in agreement with the specifications of Petrobras²⁰;

• the clay samples are composed of clay minerals from the smectite group, probably, montmorillonite or members of the series nontronite-beidellite. Also other minerals such as quartz and other clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite are included in the sample Verde-lodo;

• the natural clays, when treated with Na₂CO₃ solution can be transformed into sodium form. However the rheological properties do not satisfy the Petrobras specifications;

• among the industrialized clays, only Brasgel PA presented rheological properties fit to be used as a component of water based drilling fluids;

• after four decades of exploitation, the bentonite from Boa Vista presents mineralogical composition similar to the one from the beginning of industrialization but its rheological properties became so different and the results show a drop in the quality of these clays.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank to the National Agency of Petroleum — ANP, FINEP, MCT, CNPq/CTPETRO and the CNPq's 'DCR' program for the financial support for the development of this work.

Received: May 3, 2004; Revised: September 16, 2004

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  08 Nov 2005
• Date of issue
  Dec 2004

History

• Reviewed
  16 Sept 2004
• Received
  03 May 2004