BAKER HUGHES - Drilling Fluids Reference Manual

Water Based Drilling Fluids
Table 3-4
Examples of Different Bond Types
Example Formula Bond Type
Potassium Chloride KCl Strongly ionic
Iron (11) Chloride FeCl 2 Weakly ionic
Iron (111) Chloride FeCl 3 Weakly ionic/covalent
Carbon Tetrachloride CCl 4 Covalent, polar
Chlorine Cl 2 Covalent, non polar
Sodium Sulfide Na 2 S ionic
Hydrogen Sulfide H 2 S Covalent, slightly polar
Water H 2 O Covalent, strongly polar
Diesel Oil
Mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds of
carbon and hydrogen)
Covalent, non polar
Figure 3-8
Intermolecular Attractions in Water
Organic and Inorganic Compounds
Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds other than the simple carbonates, which are
generally classified as inorganic. Organic chemistry is based around the ability of carbon to form
chains of atoms linked by covalent bonds. These bonds are non-polar, as are the carbonhydrogen
bonds which are also found in the majority of organic molecules. Crude oil consists of
a mixture of organic molecules which are mainly compounds of carbon and hydrogen
(hydrocarbons). Natural gas is mainly methane, CH 4 , the simplest organic molecule.
Polar organic compounds are common – the molecules contain electronegative elements, such as
oxygen and nitrogen. The table below shows the more commonly occurring polar groups.
Reference Manual
Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids
3-12 Revised 2006