Drilling Fluids

2024 Large horizontal directional drilling rigs census

When a project calls for horizontal directional drilling (HDD), it’s important to use a qualified contractor and the right equipment for the specific needs, especially when it involves a large rig. This annual census, compiled by Underground Infrastructure, serves as a valuable resource in the selection process and, ultimately, project success.

Eagle Claw drill bit marks 20 years of innovation in HDD

The journey of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) from the oil and gas sector to the construction industry has been quite remarkable. Initially adopted with great success, HDD has seen significant improvements due to advancements in walk-over locating technology and steering capabilities in various ground conditions.

Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel, Max Bore HDD system boost drilling efficiency, performance

Wyo-Ben’s Max Gel and Max Bore HDD system offer premium solutions for enhanced drilling performance and efficiency. These innovative products ensure superior wellbore stability, suspension, and filtration control, making them essential tools for a variety of drilling applications.

Drilling under the LSU campus

A groundbreaking project at LSU utilizes horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology to install two 1,600-foot HDPE pipes, modernizing the campus's chilled water supply and return systems while minimizing surface disruption.

HDD Reunion, Hall of Fame celebration to be held at UIC

The biannual Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Reunion and HDD Hall of Fame celebration will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in conjunction with the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC).

Underground construction enters the virtual reality universe

(UI) — The Super Witch is incredibly popular, and at CONEXPO, the Metaverse offered a chance for people to put on the VR headset, pick up the corresponding hand controllers, and find themselves inside the cab.

B&B Underground and Drilling tackles reclaimed water project

(UI) — While many HDD companies perform strictly small-diameter fiber work, those focused on larger water and sewer utility work are specialty companies. Building a team for the task can be more challenging, too. That’s why B&B Underground and Drilling emphasizes the importance of training.

HDD and HDPE — The Perfect Match

The latest revision of ASTM F1962, approved in 2022, contains a significant change by providing the physical properties for the most-recent, high-density polyethylene material, PE4710. This material is significantly tougher than older, previous polyethylene products, facilitating successful completion of more complicated, difficult maxi-HDD projects.

Gordon Technologies announces deployment of its 150th MWD system

(UC) — Gordon Technologies LLC has deployed its 150th patented, high-performance measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system in the United States. Gordon introduced the GT-MWD standard temperature system in 2017 and its first GT-Heat-Miser high temperature MWD system, which is now capable of operating at temperatures up to 190°C, in 2018.

24th Annual Directional Drilling Survey

While never a simple market, the past two years have seen the complexity of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) reach new levels, due to both anticipated and unexpected problems.

Sunoco Ordered to Dredge Lake, Pay $4M Over Pipeline Spill

Sunoco Pipeline will dredge part of a lake and pay more than $4 million for spilling drilling fluid at a popular state park outside Philadelphia, in a settlement that will allow Mariner East 2 pipeline construction to resume.

American Augers Introduces Powerful Compact Fluid-Cleaning System

American Augers has introduced a new horizontal directional drilling (HDD) fluid-cleaning system that combines compact size with impressive capacity.

2018 Drilling Fluids Guide

BENTONITE Baroid Industrial Drilling Products, (281) 871-4613, baroididp.com Aquagel: Premium grade Wyoming sodium bentonite used as viscosifier and filtrate reducer in freshwater drilling fluids. Meets the requirements of API Specification 13A, Section 9. NSF/ANSI Standard 60 certified. Bore-Gel..

Vermeer Introduces MUD Hub Slurry Solidification System

The new Vermeer MUD Hub slurry solidification system helps control the costs, time and complexity of drilling fluid management. Using the Vermeer ST2000 slat tank and the Surface to Surface (STS) FL-243 solidification mixer, MUD Hub helps create stackable material for convenient transfer and disposa..

HDD: DRILLING FLUIDS

Wyo-Ben wyoben.com Wyo-Ben Inc. has responded to increasing regulatory pressure and customer inquiries on the disposal of spent drilling fluids by introducing SOLIDIBOND 1.1 and SOLIDIBOND 2.2.  Slurries solidified with SOLIDIBOND pass the paint filter test, allowing for less-expensive disposal as..

CETCO

cetco.com CETCO introduced HERCULA-EZ, a cutting-edge additive used in conjunction with its bentonite-based drilling muds for horizontal directional drilling (HDD). With proper formulation, the system will produce a unique drilling fluid with excellent shear-thinning characteristics. At low shear ..

Tulsa Rig Iron Celebrates 30 years Of Service

Tulsa Rig Iron (TRI) celebrated its 30th anniversary by hosting a luncheon on Sept. 20 at its facility in Kiefer, OK. Terry Flynn, vice president of sales and marketing, said that “with so many acquisitions and mergers in our industry, it is a great benchmark that a company checks the 30 year box.” ..

American Polywater Introduces Pipe Joint Lubricant And Fusion Wipes

American Polywater’s (APW) GrandSlam Pipe Joint Lubricant solves the common problems associated with other pipe joint lubricants. It is an odor-free, easy-to-apply, soft paste material that is subaqueous and clings to both wet and dry surfaces on concrete, ductile iron and plastic pipes. It doesn’t ..

M-I SWACO Drilplex HDD Inorganic Viscosifier

M-I SWACO, a Schlumberger company, offers Drilplex HDD inorganic viscosifier, specially engineered for water-based bentonite drilling fluids to accommodate both maxi and mini HDD rigs. Drilplex HDD allows the formulation of fluids with shear-thinning properties, resulting in a drilling fluid with bo..

CETCO VELOXITY-PRO Drilling Fluid Improves Cuttings Removal

CETCO’s newest drilling fluid has been created to improve cuttings removal, as well as circulation. This high-quality bentonite drilling fluid increases viscosity and lowers fluid loss. VELOXITY-PRO mixes quickly and easily in freshwater and will improve borehole stability. This NSF/ANSI Standard 60..

TRU-BORE Designed For Difficult Drilling Operations

TRU-BORE® is a highly concentrated bentonite based drilling fluid designed for difficult drilling operations in both vertical and horizontal borings. It is extremely effective high performance viscosifier for horizontal drilling applications to maintain hole integrity during pullback. It is non-toxi..

Prime Horizontal Unveils Automated HDD Measuring, Logging System

Prime Horizontal has introduced MudVis, an automated horizontal directional drilling (HDD) mud viscosity and specific gravity measuring and logging system. “Connected to the mud tank, MudVis samples fluid stock or mixing tank mud at preset intervals, logging specific gravity and viscosity values, a..

BJM Pumps Newest Submersible Pumps Designed for Superior Solids Handling

BJM Pumps newest submersible pumps – the XP-SKX Series – designed and engineered for superior corrosion resistance, solids handling and reliability. The series is FM approved in the U.S. and Canada, and the lineup is now offered with an explosion-proof monitor for installation in Class I, Division 1..

AllClean Water Recycling Aims To Improve Conservation, Productivity

Gradall Industries, the manufacturer of Vacall vacuum and jetting products, introduced an AllClean water recycling system for use on Vacall’s AllJetVac combination sewer cleaners. The innovative system was designed with water conservation in mind, as well as to allow operators to work for longer per..

Filter Out Solids From Drilling Fluids With The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer

The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer utilizes a series of shakers, cones and screens to filter out solids from drilling fluids, and it can hold up to 8,560 gallons (32,403.1 L). Powered by a 3 phase 250 kW (313 kVA) generator, the R9x12T has four shakers that can clean 600 gpm (2271 L/min). Depending on the..

MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology

The MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology has cutting edge technology. The 2400 gallon, two-section tank includes 450 plus gpm of cleaning capacity. It features high “G” force “AWD” linear shaker, five-inch cone desilter bank, high shear/low pressure mixing hop..

Drilling Fluid BORZAN D from Wyo-Ben Particularly Effective in Vapor Extraction

As a stand-alone drilling fluid BORZAN D is a highly concentrated xanthan gum allowing for lower addition rates than most bio-polymers. BORZAN D fluids are particularly effective in vapor extraction and other environmental wells where it can be flushed out of the bore with minimum residual wall-cake..

Mud Recycling Becoming Common For Mid-Sized HDD Rigs

Recycling and reusing drilling fluids is becoming increasingly common on jobs with mid-size horizontal directional drill (HDD) projects where previously that practice was uncommon. Recycling isn’t for every job – it would not be practical on jobs with small machines making short bores – but contrac..

Elgin Separation Solutions Tango 600HD2

Elgin Separation Solutions Tango 600HD2 features the new Hyper-G™ six-panel linear motion shaker with increased G-force output & single-point leveling jack, Firestone™ single-piece vibration isolation system, independent centrifugal pump pockets for direct maintenance access and eight 4” desilter hy..

Business Shorts - October 2015

LMK Technologies On August 24, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) ruled in favor of LMK Technologies, declining institution of inter parts reviews on two petitions filed by BLD Services. The decisions were issued in IPR2015-00723 (Paper 7) and IPR2015-00721 ..