The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

Water-based Drilling Fluids

By Jim Papp
May 31, 2001
Drilling fluids are of the utmost importance to successfully utilize the state-of-the-art drills and complete the bore in an economic timeframe.



Drilling fluids have never been so popular or critical to the industries with which most of us are involved as they are today. These markets include the water well, environmental, mining, horizontal directional drilling, and limited oil and gas. The dynamics of the well or borehole continue to get more and more complicated as the types of drills used today have much greater capabilities. Today's drills have the ability to drill larger and deeper holes - in less time - than previous drills. In addition, they have the ability to drill through most types of formations at varying angles. All these complexities have made drilling fluids of the utmost importance to successfully utilize the state-of-the-art drills and complete the bore in an economic timeframe.

Within the aforementioned industries, the type of fluids this article addresses are water-based fluids. This means that all the fluids will use fresh water for their make-up water, as opposed to oil- or salt-based muds, which are used mostly in oil and gas drilling. As you have heard on a regular basis, the quality of your make-up water is important. Since 95 percent to 99 percent of your fluid consists of water, it is critical that the water comes from a good source, has a low calcium content (<200 ppm) and has a pH in the range of 8-9. If the water is from a good source, and it has a high level of hardness (calcium) or low pH, then you can simply treat the water with soda ash at concentrations between 0.25-0.5 pounds per 100 gallons.

Types of drilling fluids and additives commonly used:

  • Bentonite - High-quality Wyoming sodium bentonite.
  • Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA) - Liquid or dry polymer used with or without bentonite to increase viscosity of fluid and inhibit clay and shale from swelling and sticking.
  • Polyanionic cellulose (PAC) - Liquid or dry polymer used with or without bentonite to increase stability of borehole in unconsolidated formations.
  • Drilling detergents - Surfactants used with bentonite drilling fluids to decrease surface tension of soils encountered.
  • Sodium carbonate (soda ash) - Additive that raises pH of water and precipitates calcium out of the water.

There are many other types of polymers and additives that are available to the industry. However, these five fluids/additives constitute the majority of fluids used today.

Keeping mud formulas fairly simple and easy to understand, regardless of your drilling application or the formation you expect to encounter, is important. A good rule of thumb: in fine soils (clay and silts), use a polymer or polymer/bentonite system; in coarse soils (sand and gravel) use a bentonite or bentonite/polymer system. The table above covers most types of formations and drilling conditions encountered.

ND

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jim Papp is a regular contributor to The Driller.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    The Underground Network
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Opinions
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Pumps
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Querry on selection of drilling fluids

Abinash
May 9, 2013
Hello Sir, The information you gave was very useful for me.I got all of my doubts cleared. But i need to ask you a basic question regarding the selection of drilling fluids. What parameters are basically considered during the selection of drilling fluid? I know there are several types of drilling fluids (i.e water based , oil based or synthetic based fluids) so i need to know on which basis/criteria these drilling fluids are selected? Your answers will add value to my studies. so thanks for your co-operation in advance. you can mail me on: hello.abinash01@gmail.com

Querry on selection of drilling fluids

Abinash
May 9, 2013
Hello Sir, The information you have given was very useful for me.I got all of my doubts cleared. But i need to ask you a basic question regarding the selection of drilling fluids. What parameters are basically considered during the selection of drilling fluid? I know there are several types of drilling fluids (i.e water based , oil based or synthetic based fluids) so i need to know on which basis/criteria these drilling fluids are selected? Your answers will add value to my studies. so thanks for your co-operation in advance. you can mail me on: hello.abinash01@gmail.com

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP