We get called to many jobsites to consult with drillers for many different reasons. On horizontal directional drilling (HDD) sites, that usually means recommending a drilling fluid mix or even a fluids recipe catered to a specific job. It would be great if all one-bag mixes worked in every soil condition, but they do not. The design of one-bag mixes covers the “middle of the road” conditions, your average material. However, when conditions swing between sticky clay, sand and gravel, or cobble, the mix needs a little boost. In complex geologies like these, we usually recommend supplemental polymers and additives to assist in the successful completion of the bore.
Many times after these recommendations, I hear, “They aren’t going to let me buy those,” or “We don’t have enough money in the job to support additional products!” I argue that these types of products typically reduce overall costs. As fluids consultants, we make it our goal to help contractors maximize drilling efficiency by using the proper blend of products. I always remind cost-conscious project managers that these types of products will increase penetration rates, better keep the hole open and help them complete jobs without costly delays.