| Drilling-fluid viscosifier and clay-material supplier | Bentonite and other clay-based viscosifying materials | Increase viscosity and help suspend drilled solids and weighting materials in water-based drilling fluids. | Water-based mud systems where viscosity and suspension properties need to be developed. | Viscosity, yield point, filtration behavior, and material properties assessed using applicable drilling-fluid test procedures. |
| Weighting-material supplier | Barite and other weighting materials | Increase drilling-fluid density to help manage formation pressure. | Drilling fluids requiring density adjustment, subject to well design and fluid-system compatibility. | Specific gravity, particle-size distribution, and applicable material specifications, including API Spec 13A where relevant. |
| Filtration-control additive supplier | Polyanionic cellulose (PAC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and starch-based additives | Reduce fluid loss and support formation of a filter cake, depending on the formulation and operating conditions. | Water-based drilling fluids that require filtration control. | Filtration volume, filter-cake characteristics, viscosity effects, and performance under the intended test conditions. |
| Shale-inhibition additive supplier | Potassium chloride (KCl), partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA), and glycol-based additives | Help limit shale hydration, dispersion, or instability; effectiveness depends on the formation and fluid formulation. | Water-based systems used in formations susceptible to shale-related wellbore instability. | Shale recovery or dispersion tests, rheology, salinity, and compatibility with the complete mud system. |
| Lubricant and torque-control additive supplier | Water-dispersible lubricants and specialty liquid or solid lubricating additives | Reduce friction in the drilling system and help manage torque and drag. | Drilling conditions where friction reduction is required, subject to equipment and fluid-system compatibility. | Lubricity, compatibility, foaming tendency, and effects on filtration and rheology. |
| Lost-circulation-material supplier | Cellulose-based materials, mica, and granular or fibrous plugging materials | Help bridge or seal loss zones and reduce drilling-fluid losses; selection depends on loss severity and opening size. | Formations with partial or severe lost circulation, using particle sizes suited to the treatment plan. | Particle-size distribution, material form, mixing behavior, and performance in an appropriate plugging or loss-circulation test. |