BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Oil / Synthetic Fluids
Salts
Since most salts will not dissolve in oil based fluids, salts take on the aspect of just another solid in the
system. Some small quantity of a particular salt may dissolve in the internal phase (i.e. emulsified
water) of the mud, but this will be relatively insignificant and will generally have no effect on the
stability of the fluid. Depending upon the type of emulsifier used, salts that may dissolve in the water
phase may react adversely with the emulsifier. This occurs primarily when massive quantities of
magnesium containing salts are encountered.
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
Reference Manual
5-50 Revised 2006