Case Study: Rheology Control in Oil-Based Drilling Fluid

The Challenge

A drilling contractor required a reliable organoclay viscosifier for a diesel-based OBM system used in horizontal directional drilling at temperatures to 150°C (300°F). The previous organoclay supplier provided inconsistent YP and gel strength batch-to-batch, causing non-productive time (NPT) from stuck pipe events.

Solution: CP-992 at 5 lb/bbl

CP-992 easy-dispersing organoclay was added at 5 lb/bbl (14.3 kg/m³) to the diesel base fluid during mud mixing. The activation and addition procedure should be checked against the current grade TDS. The mud was mixed at 3,500 rpm for 20 minutes before adding other components.

Results (HPHT measured at 150°C / 300°F)

Conclusion

CP-992 consistently met all rheology specifications across 12 consecutive batches with <5% variation in YP — eliminating the NPT experienced with the previous supplier. The documented mixing procedure simplified field operations and reduced mud engineer preparation time by ~25%.

More case studies: Paint Anti-Settling · Clay Grease for Steel Mill · BTEX Water Treatment