In an article entitled “Know Your HDD Solids Content” Brian Dorwart discusses how different non-soluble solids impact drill fluid performance in trenchless excavation. The fundamental rule for trenchless excavation is that you can only mine as fast as you can remove the cuttings, therefore, understanding drill fluid properties is essential to achieving project success.
Drill fluid, made primarily of water and sodium-rich bentonite, acts as a conveyor to remove cuttings. Drill fluid must be able to suspend cuttings during the drilling process, convey them from the bore, and release suspended cuttings if the fluid is being recycled. This article reviews properties of the fluid such as viscosity and density, which are essential for suspending and transporting these solids.
Click here to read the article.