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Modified starches for fluid loss control in water-based drilling fluids: A systematic review and future perspectives for sago-based approaches
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DOI：10.1007/s42247-026-01498-1.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Starch remains one of the most practical and sustainable biopolymers for fluid-loss control in water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs), yet its native thermal and ionic limitations restrict performance under demanding downhole conditions. This systematic review synthesizes advances in starch-based fluid-loss reducers by screening eligible studies published between 2010 and 2025 and examining how physical, chemical, and hybrid modification strategies influence hydration behavior, thermal stability, filtration control, and rheological performance in WBDF systems under saline and elevated-temperature conditions. Physical treatments such as gelatinization, pregelatinization, micronization, and nanogrinding primarily improve hydration, granule disintegration, pore plugging, and interparticle bridging, but their performance window is often narrower than that of chemically modified or hybrid-modified systems. The thermomechanical characteristics of sago starch suggest that it may be a promising candidate for extrusion-based pregelatinization aimed at achieving cold-water solubility without excessive loss of thermal integrity. Chemical modification generally provides more durable performance under elevated temperature and salinity. Crosslinked and graft-copolymerized starches more often outperform simple etherified derivatives, while carboxymethylated starch offers improved hydration capacity and saline compatibility, making it an effective component in more integrated designs. Among the reviewed routes, hybrid-modified starches, which combine ionic, hydrophobic, or network-forming functionalities, provide the most balanced improvements in thermal endurance, ionic tolerance, and overall WBDF performance. Despite these advances, the literature remains fragmented by inconsistent testing practices and limited technoeconomic or environmental assessment. This review consolidates the current evidence, identifies critical research gaps, and highlights the underexplored potential of sago starch as a feedstock for next-generation WBDF fluid-loss reducers.
Keywords:
Drilling fluids
Fluid loss control
HPHT stability
Sago starch
Starch modification
WBDF applications
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4.1
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2.8K
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