Nigerian engineer and Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Augustine Ekechi, has proposed breakthrough research showing how indigenous clay, enhanced with surfactants, can produce high-quality drilling fluids to boost Nigeria’s energy sector and reduce reliance on imports.

He made this assertion in a media statement recently, highlighting how treated Nigerian clays can meet international standards and offer a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to imported drilling materials.

Ekechi’s study focused on how different concentrations of non-ionic and anionic surfactants interact with beneficiated local clay to improve rheological and filtration properties.

Testing surfactant levels at 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% by weight, he identified an optimal range that significantly enhances viscosity, yield point, gel strength, and fluid-loss control key properties that ensure safe and efficient drilling.

“Surfactants act as molecular bridges that modify the surface chemistry of clay particles,” Ekechi explained in his statement. “They improve dispersion, reduce inter-particle attraction, and stabilize the fluid system. With proper optimization, Nigerian clays can perform just as well as imported sodium bentonite.”

The Nigerian drilling industry has long struggled with low-swelling calcium bentonite, which often falls short of American Petroleum Institute standards.

Ekechi’s research combines soda-ash activation, thermochemical treatment, and surfactant enhancement to transform local clays into materials with higher swelling capacity and improved rheology, making them suitable for both water-based and oil-based mud systems.

According to his statement, his experiments further show that surfactant-modified clays improve lubricity and wellbore cleaning efficiency while reducing the environmental footprint of drilling operations.

These findings present a sustainable pathway for producing high-quality drilling fluids entirely from Nigerian raw materials.

“Developing dependable formulations from indigenous clay will empower local service companies to compete globally,” Ekechi said. “It conserves foreign exchange, creates jobs, and aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s industrial diversification goals.”

Ekechi notes that properly treated Nigerian clay could transform onshore and shallow-well operations, where importing bentonite is often impractical.

By demonstrating that local clays can meet global standards, Ekechi’s work sets the stage for commercial-scale production and greater energy independence.

Ekechi continues to advocate for stronger collaboration between academia, government, and the private sector to accelerate pilot projects and technology transfer.

His research advances Nigeria’s petroleum-engineering knowledge base while showing how science-led innovation can drive industrial self-reliance and sustainable development.

Through his work, Ekechi exemplifies a new generation of Nigerian engineers turning research into practical solutions, converting local challenges into catalysts for national progress.