EduAsiaNews, BANDUNG – The PetroChemix Team, comprising students from the Petroleum Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), secured third place at the Mud Innovation Competition during OIL WEEK 2025, organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers University of Indonesia Student Chapter (SPE UI).
The PetroChemix Team consists of Ghifari Jauhar Yajri and Arief Ramadhan from Petroleum Engineering, as well as Fathi Aurasaliha Thorifah from Chemical Engineering.
Eco-Friendly Drilling Mud Innovation from Local Waste
The team name PetroChemix is derived from the words “Petroleum” and “Chemical Mix,” reflecting their integrated approach to designing drilling fluid formulations. The competition focused on developing environmentally friendly and efficient drilling mud solutions to address challenges at the Anggrek-1 oil well.
Their innovation, titled “Utilization of Chitosan-Coated CaCO₃ Nanoparticles and Tamarind Gum for Eco-Efficient Drilling Fluid Design,” presents an eco-friendly drilling mud solution using shrimp shell waste (chitosan) and tamarind gum. The formulation aims to reduce fluid loss, mitigate clay swelling, and improve drilling mud rheology.
“With chitosan-coated CaCO₃ nanoparticles, the drilling mud can effectively seal formation pores without causing damage. This solution not only enhances drilling efficiency but also reduces environmental impact and operational costs,” Ghifari explained.
The team was motivated to address two major challenges in the oil and gas industry: technical efficiency and environmental sustainability, particularly through the utilization of local waste materials.
Throughout the competition, the team was mentored by William Sutaman, a 2020 graduate of ITB’s Petroleum Engineering program who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mexico. “His guidance became a crucial foundation in strengthening our proposal and overall competition strategy,” Ghifari said.
Moving forward, the team plans to test the formulation at the laboratory scale and remains open to further research collaborations with industry partners.
“Don’t be afraid to try,” Ghifari advised fellow students. “What matters most is not how fast you succeed, but how consistently you dare to take steps forward.”
