الفهرس 
Re-evaluation of clay sediments in Elfayoum to be utilized as wells drilling fluids
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Abstract
Bentonite clay is the main component of the water based mud drilling fluids. The bentonite samples used in this thesis were collected from the clay stone quarries which located widely in Kom Oshim area, El-Fayoum Province, Egypt. The treated bentonite samples were tested to be used in drilling fluids instead of imported ones to reduce the cost and enhance the Egyptian economy. The local bentonite cannot be used as a drilling mud without being treated with the polymers.Its rheological properties were improved in presence of investigated polymers; Sodium alginate, Xanthan gum and Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC).X-ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) characterization for local bentonite were studied. Evaluation of bentonite samples before and after treatment with polymers was studied by measuring the rheological properties (apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, thixotropy and filtration properties). Moreover, the effect of different temperatures on the mud samples in presence of the mentioned polymers, where the shear rate and shear stress were also studied. It was found that bentonite samples cannot be used as a drilling mud without activation, where activation process showed some significant changes in the rheological properties were observed.The experimental results revealed that the activated fitted samples may be classified as medium grade bentonite clay and this type of clay could be used as a drilling fluid for shallow depth wells. The results were compared with the commercial grade bentonite according to the American Petroleum Institute specification (API)