When a drilling contractor has to work on equipment, they are well aware of the tools it takes to get the job done. For example, it would be impossible to tear into a mud pump and change pistons and liners with only a Phillips screwdriver or a 9⁄16-inch wrench. It takes a good collection of tools, each designed for a specific purpose, to complete the task. Without a complete set of the required tools, the job becomes much more difficult or, in some cases, impossible.
The same principles apply to drilling fluids. It is not uncommon to see drilling contractors dump high-yield bentonite into water, call it a drilling fluid, and expect it to perform all of the functions required, such as suspending and transporting cuttings, controlling fluid loss to maintain borehole stability, and/or controlling reactive clays. Just like the tools required for performing pump repairs, soda ash, bentonite drilling fluids products, polymers and additives are tools designed for specific purposes and if the right tools for the job are not used, the job becomes much more difficult or, in some cases, impossible.