With a unique blend of strength, Flexibility, Bonding, and high-temperature capability, Gilsonite increase performance in cementing and drilling fluids in a way no other single additive can.Gilsonite has significant health, safety and environmental (HSE) advantages over synthetic products. OSHA Material Safety Data Sheets classify Gilsonite as:

• Non-toxic
• Non-carcinogenic
• Non-mutagenic

Gilsonite is used in drilling mud fluids and oil well cementing. Gilsonite, in a range of softening points and particle sizes, is a standard ingredient in oil-based drilling muds used in shales and other difficult geological formations. The addition of specially-treated Gilsonite to water-based drilling fluids helps minimize hole washout by stabilizing troublesome shales and seals off highly permeable sands while reducing torque and drag. The addition of Gilsonite to oil well cement reduces slurry weight without loss of compressive strength and acts as an effective bridging and plugging agent to seal fractures in weak formations while cementing.

Cement-water slurries, with or without various additives, have been used for many years in cementing procedures carried out from time to time during the drilling of the productive life of a well. Cementing is often applied during drilling and completion procedures in connection with the protection of production zones, isolation and confinement of water zones, support of borehole wall, anchorage of the casing, and control of lost circulation not overcome by methods associated with the circulation of drilling mud. Such cementing procedures by gilsonite additives are ordinarily regarded as being of the primary character.Gilsonite use in Mud drilling according to FLC “Filtrate Loss Control” or “Fluid Loss Control” in oil base mud.

In oil and gas industry, drilling fluids or liquids perform a variety of functions that influence the drilling rate, the cost, efficiency, and safety of drilling operator. There are many types of drilling fluid systems available such as water base muds, oil base muds, stable foam muds, air or gas base muds from which the right system may be chosen. Main drilling mud additives include viscosifying agents, fluid loss control agents, drilling fluid dispersants and corrosion inhibitors. Cement and cement additives are considered to be critical inputs in the completion of any oil and gas well.

An important characteristic of Gilsonite is its softening point temperature. In oil-based muds, it is used as a fluid-loss control agent. In water-based muds, it is used as a shale stabilizing additive and is difficult to evaluate unless tested at or above its softening point. Gilsonite is used in cementing slurries to provide density control, scouring action for mud removal, and to support compressive strength development. It has a unique reaction with shale that improves cement bond development and strength.

Usage of cementing additive in oil & gas

Gilsonite has various classes with respect to melting points. The lower the melting point, the faster the Gilsonite will dissolve in a solvent therefor or soften under conditions of heat. Therefore, the use of gilsonite in an oil & gas well-cementing composition affords an opportunity to select a class of that material which best serves the particular purpose. The heat softening characteristic of Gilsonite becomes of particular importance in instances of relatively high bottom hole temperatures, where there is a tendency for the Gilsonite to soften and diffuse into the surrounding cement.

Benefits of natural bitumen in drilling fluids

• Adding Natural Bitumen will create premium quality, multifunctional drilling fluid additive while reducing cost compare to other additives.
• Suitable to any environment especially the ones with high temperature (HT) and zones with High pressures (HP). It prevents stuck pipe and stuck logging tolls from happening in those zones by sealing permeable formation.
• Natural Bitumen in oil-based drilling fluids as a fluid–loss control agent. Softening points (softening point 350-399F’)
• Natural Bitumen in water-based drilling fluids when pre-treated with surfactant to stabilize the shale and to prevent circulation, (softening point 350-399F’)
• It minimizes differential sticking and it also passes deep-water environmental planning and assessment regulation (EPA)