Critical Wells

We believe the presence of clay, gumbo or reactive shales should not stop you from gaining the performance benefits of water-based drilling fluids. And, thanks to our effective approach to shale inhibition, you can. Avoiding the swelling, wellbore instability, high torque and drag, and stuck pipe associated with the water phase of drilling fluids in these conditions.

Anticipating and solving shale issues
Our team of scientists at the Newpark Technology Center laboratory analyze shale samples to determine the quantities and types of clays present in the shales. Based on decades of shale inhibition expertise, our scientists then formulate an appropriate inhibition package for that shale.

Our shale hydration inhibiting solutions include:

• Emulsified Phase: improves the membrane and coats formation surfaces with non-aqueous film.
• Supplemental salinity: lowers the water activity
• Silicates: precipitate into pore spaces and onto the surfaces of shales and cuttings.
• Amine: actively bonds to exchange sites in clays

The interaction of reservoir fluids, formations, and drilling fluids in the HTHP environment places extreme demands on your operations. That’s why Newpark fluids experts use our industry-leading laboratory capability to perform all the rigorous testing required to ensure the system will perform as expected. In real-world downhole conditions.

Our holistic, field focused approach identifies the fluid and well characteristics required from initial fluid design through service quality and program implementation to well completion.

Advanced laboratory design and a field-focused outlook enable our operations managers to provide a fluid program

encompassing the design and operation that can withstand the most hostile environments – with total service quality.

Optimizing HTHP fluid performance in the field

Our highly skilled fluids engineers run well site tests to ensure the execution of the fluid solution to the defined plan – while their extensive experience enables them to resolve any challenges they encounter. Quickly, efficiently and cost-effictively.