Oil and gas drilling depends on a drilling fluid (drilling mud) that performs well. The fluid carries rock cuttings to the surface, holds back formation pressure, cools the drill bit and keeps the wellbore stable. Doing all that takes a range of chemicals, each with its own job.
Viscosifiers
Viscosifiers give the fluid the thickness it needs to lift and suspend drill cuttings.
- Bentonite — a clay that swells in water and forms the basic viscosifier of water-based muds.
- Xanthan Gum — a biopolymer that provides high viscosity at low shear rates, helping to hold solids in suspension when circulation stops.
Fluid loss control
Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC) LV and HV help reduce fluid seepage into the rock formation. The LV variant mainly controls fluid loss, while HV also adds viscosity.
Shale stabilisers and pH control
- Potassium Chloride — potassium ions help inhibit the swelling of water-sensitive shale.
- Potassium Hydroxide and Caustic Soda — maintain the fluid’s pH and alkalinity.
- Soda Ash — binds calcium to reduce the hardness of make-up water.
Weighting and bridging materials
- Calcium Carbonate — used as an acid-soluble weighting and bridging agent.
- Calcium Chloride — used to make brines, for example for completion fluids.
- Fracseal and Saw Dust — lost circulation materials that seal fractures and voids in the formation.
Performance additives
- Lubricant — reduces friction and torque on the drill string.
- Drilling Detergent — helps prevent cuttings from sticking to the bit and drill string.
- Defoamer — breaks down foam that disrupts circulation and fluid measurement.
- Spotting Fluid — pumped to the point where pipe is stuck to help free it.
Protecting equipment and fluids
- Corrosion Inhibitor — protects pipes and metal equipment from corrosion.
- Oxygen Scavenger — removes dissolved oxygen that accelerates corrosion.
- Biocide — controls bacterial growth that can degrade polymers and trigger corrosion.
One supplier for many needs
All of the products above are available in the Oil & Gas category, with downloadable specifications. Contact us for a quotation that fits your drilling programme.
