Drilling Fluids

Drilling Fluids

GILSONITE® IMPROVES DRILLING EFFICIENCIES, WELLBORE STABILITY, FILTER CAKE DEVELOPMENT AND MORE.

As an integral component of premium drilling fluid products, Gilsonite® uintaite actively improves drilling efficiencies while reducing costs and minimizing the HSE impact associated with most drilling fluid additives.

Drilling Fluids

Gilsonite® uintaite is the only drilling fluid additive that provides all of these benefits:

  • Controls fluid loss and seepage
  • Stabilizes shales
  • Prevents lost circulation
  • Strengthens the wellbore to increase wellbore stability
  • Minimizes differential sticking
  • Promotes effective filter cake development
  • Performs in oil- and water-based drilling muds
  • Performs in HP/HT environments
  • Minimizes HSE risks

Gilsonite® prevents formation damage
Gilsonite® uintaite forms a physical and chemical bond with permeable formations, creating an effective seal to prevent the passage of drilling fluid. By uniquely functioning as both a malleable and solid plugging agent, Gilsonite® controls fluid loss and seepage, prevents lost circulation and protects reactive and low-reactive shale surfaces, even at elevated bottomhole temperatures.

Proven to strengthen the wellbore
HP/HT wells, shales and underpressured zones require specialized drilling fluids and wellbore-strengthening techniques. Adding Gilsonite® uintaite to an OBM, SBM or WBM strengthens the well by:

  • Reducing pore pressure transmission and sealing micro-fractures in shale and low-porosity sands
  • Keeping interbedding formations intact
  • Developing effective filter cake
  • Providing a “smear effect” that creates a continuous protective sealant along the wellbore wall

The most effective additive to prevent differential sticking
Gilsonite® uintaite minimizes the occurrence of stuck pipe and stuck logging tools by thoroughly sealing permeable formations – even in zones with a highly overbalanced pressure differential – and improving filter cake lubricity.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES

All-natural Gilsonite® is safe for Gulf of Mexico operations
Naturally occurring Gilsonite® uintaite has significant health advantages over synthetic products. Gilsonite® is:

  • Non-toxic (unlike coal or fly ash)
  • Non-carcinogenic
  • Non-mutagenic

Gilsonite® uintaite is safe to handle, use and store, and passes Gulf of Mexico EPA discharge requirements for deepwater operations.

SIGNIFICANT COST ADVANTAGES

Compared to alternative products, Gilsonite® uintaite offers comparable or superior performance at a much lower cost. In water-based mud (WBM) applications, the performance of Gilsonite® compares favorably with sulfonated asphalts while costing 25-50% less.

Water-based Mud Applications

In HP/HT environments using synthetic-based mud (SBM), Gilsonite® uintaite provides a cost reduction of more than 80% compared to premium co-polymer, while the high softening point of Gilsonite® also results in a 45% reduction in fluid loss.

Gilsonite® improves performance at a fraction
of the price of synthetics alone.

PRODUCTS

American Gilsonite® uintaite drilling fluid products perform in any application.

Product Softening Points Mud Type More Information
Gilsonite® XM-P >325° F OBM Drilling Fluids Product Overview
Gilsonite® LM-P >350° F OBM Drilling Fluids Product Overview
Gilsonite® GM-P >350° F OBM Drilling Fluids Product Overview
Gilsonite® HT Series 400-500° F OBM HT Tech Sheet
Gilsonite® AquaSol Series 325-500° F WBM AquaSol Tech Sheet

Deepwater Tech Sheet

To learn more about how Gilsonite® uintaite can benefit your company, click on your industry below.