Extrusion of bentonite clay for fluid loss reduction in drilling fluids

摘要

The fluid loss and viscosity loss characteristics of a water expandable bentonite clay are substantially improved by extruding the clay through die openings while, at the same time, passing a wiper or scraping blade across the entrance of the die openings. In this manner, very inexpensive and low grade clays can be substantially improved and thus modified making such clays acceptable in fluid loss and viscosity for use in a drilling fluid or mud.