Part 3 of Blick's clay series. How to examine cuttings samples in real time, adjust your fluid mix, and use rheology testing to maintain a healthy drilling fluid programme on site.
The Challenge
Clay conditions change within a single drill shot — from manageable to highly reactive, from clean cutting to mud balling. Drillers without a systematic approach to cuttings analysis end up guessing at product additions, spending more product than needed and still not solving the problem.
The Approach
Start with water treatment: Soda Ash raises pH, removes calcium, and decreases hardness — preparing the makeup water before any product is added. Then deploy the five-product system: Swell Stop (Liquid) prevents swelling, Clay Dissolve breaks down clay particles, Clay Control inhibits water contact with clay platelets, Carry Flow improves cutting removal, Torque Down reduces adhesion. Examine cuttings samples immediately as they come up. Adjust product dosages in real time based on what you see.
The Outcome
Real-time cuttings analysis and fluid adjustment eliminates reactive guesswork. Adding just 1 to 2 litres per cubic metre of products like Clay Control produces measurable results — concentrated formulations mean small adjustments have significant impact.