COMPATIBILITY OF RHODAMINE B TOWARD pH SENSITIVITY OF DRILLING MUD FOR WELLBORE MONITORING

Abstract

The effectiveness of drilling operations is highly dependent on the performance of drilling mud, which must be continuously monitored to maintain safety and efficiency. One method to improve mud monitoring is by using fluorescent markers such as Rhodamine B. This study aims to evaluate the compatibility of Rhodamine B as a marker additive in water-based drilling mud, determine the optimal concentration for application, and analyze its performance under acidic and alkaline conditions. Experimental results show that the addition of Rhodamine B slightly affects mud properties such as plastic viscosity, melting point, filtrate volume, and pH, but remains within acceptable operational limits. Among the concentrations tested, 0.0085% was found to be the optimal concentration, providing strong fluorescence without significantly affecting mud stability. Additionally, Rhodamine B performed more consistently under alkaline conditions compared to acidic environments, where its fluorescence tended to decrease. Overall, Rhodamine B is a promising additive marker for real-time monitoring in drilling operations using water-based mud.