The nonionic surfactants use is replacing the traditional ionic surfactants among other reasons because of its high resistance to thermal degradation potential. This work aims the organoclays development through the nonionic surfactants incorporation in order to oil base drilling fluids use. The natural bentonite clay, and industrialized organophilizated were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. After, the clay organophilization was performed by Foster swelling, seeking the most appropriate choice of surfactants to the liquid media organic dispersants, ester, paraffin and diesel. With the obtained dispersions were determined by plastic and apparent viscosities the rheological properties. The results showed that organoclays increase in the interlayer spacing and that the dispersions showed rheological properties within the Petrobras specifications for use in oil base drilling fluids.
organophilization; bentonite clays; nonionic surfactants
