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Drilling Starch (Water-Based Drilling Fluids)

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Drilling Starch (Water-Based Drilling Fluids)

Key Industry Challenges & Shalbond Solutions

1. Excessive Fluid Loss into Formation

  • Pain: Uncontrolled filtrate seepage destabilizes borehole walls and risks differential sticking.
  • Shalbond Solution: Forms a thin, impermeable filter cake reducing API fluid loss by up to 80 mL at 275 °F over 16 hrs.

2. Thermal Degradation at High Temperatures

  • Pain: Standard starches break down above 225 °F, requiring frequent re-dosing.
  • Shalbond Solution: Epichlorohydrin-crosslinked, carboxymethylated (DS ≥ 0.4) starch remains stable for 32 hrs at ≥250 °F without viscosity loss

3. Rheology Drift & Unplanned Downtime

  • Pain: “Thick–thin” cycles during heating/cooling lead to pump stalls and NPT.
  • Shalbond Solution: Controlled modification maintains consistent Brabender/Marsh funnel viscosity, eliminating remixing during 8–12 hr hot-rolling.

4. Compatibility with Variable Water Chemistries

  • Pain: High-salinity or hard brines precipitate starch and foul pumps.
  • Shalbond Solution: Non-ionic, modified polymer performs in fresh to saturated salt and high-pH lime muds without precipitation.

5. Biological Degradation in Field Conditions

  • Pain: Bacterial enzymes degrade native starch, eroding filter cake.
  • Shalbond Solution: High-DS carboxymethylation (≥ 0.4) confers fermentation resistance, extending shelf life and downhole efficacy.

Core Technical Specifications

Property
Specification / Range
Base Starch
Corn/Tapioca, waxy starch blend (≥ 80% amylopectin)
Crosslinking Agent
Epichlorohydrin (Viscograph peak → 35–50% of max viscosity)
Degree of Carboxymethylation
DS 0.40–0.60 per anhydroglucose unit
Hydroxypropylation (Optional)
0.5–10% PO addition for thermal/rheology boost
Bulk Density
0.50–0.70 g/mL
pH (1% soln)
8.5–10.5
Hot-Roll Thermal Stability
Stable fluid loss control up to 275 °F for ≥ 32 hrs[class=”citation”]4[/citation]
API Fluid Loss (Saturated Salt)
≤ 5 mL (16 hr aged, 275 °F)[class=”citation”]4[/citation]
Solids Content (1 kg : 4 L ratio)
16–20% solids
Mixing Time
Cold-water soluble, lump-free in < 5 min
Shelf Life
12 months (dry storage)
Packaging
50kg bags

Why Choose Shalbond Drilling Starch?

  • High-Temperature Resilience: Well established epichlorohydrin crosslinking plus DS ≥ 0.4 carboxymethylation delivers unmatched thermal fluid-loss stability.
  • Superior Fluid-Loss Control: Rapid filter cake sealing reduces filtrate by up to 90% vs. unmodified starch or CMC.
  • Consistent Rheology: Eliminates “thick–thin” viscosity swings, ensuring pump-friendly, shear-thinning behavior throughout long runs.
  • Wide Water Compatibility: Works in fresh, saline, hard water, and high-pH muds without precipitation or degradation.
  • Extended Downhole Life: Biocide-free, high-DS structure resists bacterial attack, reducing additive frequency and NPT.

Typical Applications

  • Oil & gas well drilling (water-based muds)
  • Well completion & workover fluids
  • High-temperature HPHT drilling operations
  • Freshwater to saturated-salt mud systems
  • Lost-circulation pills and gravel-pack fluids
  • Optimize your drilling program with Shalbond’s research-driven, patent-based drilling starch.

Describe your Challenges?

Let us know your packaging or production problem and our team will recommend the right solution—backed by science, not guesswork.

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