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The experience acquired in the field showed that poor cuttings transportation results in several drilling problems, such as pipe sticking, undue torque and drag, hole–pack off, or lower than projected drilling performance. In this study, complex water–based mud (WBM) formulated with polypropylene–nanosilica composite (PP–SiO₂ NC) and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA), a drag–reducing agent were used to examine cuttings transferring efficiencies (CTEs). The examination focused on the impact of diameters of cuttings (between 0.50 and 4.00 mm), hole angles (45, 60, 75, 90°), mud velocities (between 0.457 and 1.80 m/s) and different concentrations (0.4, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 ppb) of PP–SiO₂ NC and PHPA. A field–oriented cuttings transport flow loop of dimensions (69.85 mm × 26.67 mm, 6.07 m–long annulus) was constructed to determine the CTEs of the drilling muds. Results showed that smallest …