Industrial Minerals
Oil & Gas Drilling
Weighting agents, viscosifiers and lost-circulation material for drilling fluids.
The problem
Mud properties change with depth, temperature and what the formation does next. Weighting, viscosity and loss control all have to be on the rig before they are needed, in API grade.
What we supply
API-grade barytes at 4.20 minimum specific gravity, API bentonite on yield, and mica flakes graded fine, medium and coarse for seepage through severe losses.
Choosing a grade
| What you are solving | What we would quote | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mud weighting | Barytes XR-API | SG ≥ 4.20, soluble Ca ≤ 250 mg/kg |
| Viscosity and filtration | Bentonite XN-API | Yield ≥ 90 bbl/tonne |
| Seepage loss | Mica XF-Fine | 20–40 mesh |
| Severe loss zones | Mica XF-Coarse | 4–8 mesh |
These are starting points, not prescriptions. Send your current material's data sheet and we will match it properly rather than guessing from a mesh number.
Minerals for oil & gas drilling
3 of the minerals we supply end up in this industry. Here is what each one is actually doing once it is in the mix.
- Barytes (Barite) — Weighting agent; the largest single use worldwide.
- Bentonite — Viscosifier and filtration-control agent in water-based mud.
- Mica Flakes — Lost-circulation material, graded to the loss zone.
Barytes (Barite)
High specific gravity barium sulphate. Drilling mud weighting and sound-deadening fillers.
Bentonite
Swelling montmorillonite clay. Binding, sealing and viscosity in foundry and drilling.
Mica Flakes
Graded muscovite flake. Insulation, drilling loss control and decorative effect.
Every one of these has its own page with the grade ladder, the typical chemistry and the physical properties. If you already know the mineral and need the numbers, go straight there.
What we will ask you
- API specification you work to
- Mud system: water or oil based
- Delivery point — rig, yard or port
- Monthly tonnage
Four answers are enough for a quote and a sample. We do not need a meeting first.
What you get back
- A delivered price per tonne or per pound to your ZIP code, not an FOB India number you have to convert
- A free sample of the grade we recommend, shipped from the United States
- The typical analysis and, with the sample, the actual mill test certificate for that lot
- A safety data sheet in US format before the material arrives
- A lead time you can plan a production run around
Working in oil & gas drilling?
Tell us the application and the tonnage. Quote and free sample back within one business day.