Potassium Soltex® Additive is a specially prepared potassium asphalt sulfonate made water soluble by a unique sulfonation process. It is a versatile, total mud conditioner that stabilizes shale formations, significantly increases lubricity, and lowers HTHP water loss.
Potassium Soltex® Additive enhances filter cake properties in both oil-based and water-based muds. Potassium Soltex® Additive, contributes water-soluble potassium ions to the mud system. This is beneficial in formations that require the specific action of potassium to adequately minimize water-induced clay swelling.
Special Information
Potassium Soltex® Additive is consumed on drilled solids and on the well bore. It is advisable to add 50% more Potassium Soltex® Additive one day following the initial treatment to ensure adequate concentration.
Advantages
- Controlled water and oil solubility to effect best chemical and physical performance
- Minimizes damage to productive formations
- Reacts with shale to prevent or stop sloughing and swelling
- Significantly increases lubricity; either alone or synergistically with small amounts of oils and synthetics
- Environmentally acceptable - is used on land and offshore
- Extremely temperature stable - does not have the softening point typically associated with un-reacted asphaltic additives
- Inhibits dispersion of drilled solids
- Minimal and easily distinguishable fluorescence - does not hamper well logging or core analysis
- Will not leave oil slick, sheen or rainbow on water at offshore locations
- No emulsifiers needed to ensure proper mixing
- Stable in drilling operations to 500 °F (260 °C)