BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Water Based Drilling Fluids
Many other techniques for chemical analysis exist, but are rarely, if ever, used for drilling fluids,
owing to the need for expensive, intricate equipment and trained operators.
Common Names of Compounds used in Drilling Fluids
Many different “chemicals” and minerals are used on drilling rigs. These are often known by a
common name in the case of “chemicals”, or by their geological name in the case of minerals.
Table 3-10 gives the main examples.
Note that the term “lime” is used for two different compounds. This is due to historical reasons.
Any product derived from heating limestone (mainly calcium carbonate), has been called in the
past “lime”. Thus:
CaCO 3 → CaO + CO 2
This reaction produces calcium oxide (quick lime). On adding water this forms calcium
hydroxide (slaked lime).
CaO + H 2 O → Ca(OH) 2
Table 3-10
Common Names, Chemical Nature and Formula of Materials
Common Name or Mineral Name Chemical Nature Formula
Anhydrite Calcium Sulfate CaSO 4
Barite or baryte or barytes Barium Sulfate BaSO 4
Bicarbonate of soda or bicarb Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate NaHCO 3
Calcite Calcium Carbonate CaCO 3
Caustic or caustic soda Sodium Hydroxide NaOH
Cement Calcium Oxide + clays CaO + clays
Gypsum Calcium Sulfate CaSO 4 + 2H 2 O
Lime or quick lime Calcium Oxide CaO
Lime or slaked lime Calcium Hydroxide Ca(OH) 2
Marble Calcium Carbonate CaCO 3
Muriate of potash Potassium Chloride KCl
Potash Potassium Chloride KCl
Salt Sodium Chloride NaCl
SAPP Sodium Acid pyrophosphate Na 2 H 2 P 2 O 7
Soda ash Sodium Carbonate Na 2 CO 3
Reference Manual
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
3-30 Revised 2006