Hematite

Hematite: iron oxide, Fe2O3, is an iron ore containing 30-65% iron.
Powdered hematite is used in oil drilling as a weighting agent for drilling muds and cement slurries due to its high density, reaching 5.2 kg/dm3. The addition of hematite to the drilling fluid does not cause significant changes in its rheological parameters.

Hematite is fast becoming a popular choice as a weighting agent in drilling fluids for production applications in the oil and gas sector - offering high performance, good stability and broad applicability through different rock types Used in both oil- and water- based mud fluids, hematite provides enhanced rheological properties, and a higher specific gravity meaning less of it can be used relative to its competitors to achieve the same result. Hematite is valued for being highly pure at the point of being mined and very hard, in addition to being economically attractive. Other uses for hematite in the oil and gas sector include for stabilising the drill holes themselves and as shielding barriers

Hematite

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Physical Properties:

Appearance : Free flowing powder
Colour : Dry: Red to brown powder & Wet: Grey to black & Muds: Deep reddish brown
Specific gravity : ≥5
Bulk density : 2,178 kg/m3[136 lbm/ft3]
Particle hardness5–6 Mohs hardness scale
Water soluble alkaline earth metals, as calcium : 100 mg/kg Max
Residue greater than 75µm : Max 1.5%
Residue greater than 45µm : Max 15%
Particles less than 6µm in equivalent spherical diameter : Max 15%

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Dowmload SDS

Advantages:
It has a lower attrition rate than barite, being harder has less chances of particle size degradation
It improves rheological properties in muds.
It provides higher rate of penetration.
It is more resistant to particle size degradation and is more environmental friendly than barite
Due ot its higher Specific Gravity the Muds have lowder Solid Content as compared to Baryte Muds

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Properties
Drilling hematite is supplied as a red-brown powder, insoluble in water and odorless. The product is not biodegradable, but it is non-toxic and harmless to the environment.

Safe use
Due to the significant content of the dusty fraction, special care should be taken when working with the product, therefore it is required to wear work clothes, a mask and anti-dust glasses when using hematite.

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Hematite In Oil Based Mud (OBM)
OBMs are characterised by having an oil-based continuous phase, with water in a dispersed phase alongside other additives such as emulsifiers and gellants.

Wetting is a concern for OBM drilling. Wetting is where water adheres to the solids in the mud, either the weighting agents or otherwise. Materials that are prone to wetting may cause excess water to reach the drilling area, which can result in clumping of the solids, leading to severe inefficiencies in the drilling process and potential degradation of the drill bit. In the most extreme cases, the clumping caused by wetting can render a drill site inoperable. Hematite is characterised as a low-wetting material, and thus the use of this over other weighting materials will ensure less wetting

Hematite In Water Based Mud (WBM)
In WMB applications, lubricants are often used to ensure high efficiency drilling and to reduce friction and wear caused by solids including weighing agents such as hematite. It has been found that a 1% by volume addition of surfactant to the mud mixture was sufficient to reduce friction coefficients by 60% - increasing the longevity of the drill bit. In WBM scenarios, hematite can be used in quantities of up to 20% by weight, with a notable decrease in sedimentation relative to barite due to the high iron oxide content.

Hematite And Rheology
Rheology refers to the flow of matter, and particularly in the drilling space, the plastic flow of solids. This should not be confused with plastics as a material. Plastic flow is a movement proportional to an applied force, and specifically in petroleum exploration, a shape or phase change resulting from such a force. Rheological properties are profoundly affected by the presence of solid materials, and therefore adding hematite to a fluid will have an impact upon its rheological performance. Particle size is crucial (no more than 25 µm, but often far less). Across multiple studies, hematite has produced higher density values, better gelling ability and higher plastic viscosity than barite, especially at deep boring depths. These qualities are continuous with successful long term depth drilling projects, affording stable bore holes.

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