Organoclay for Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

What is an OBM, and where does organoclay fit?

In an oil-continuous mud, the oil or synthetic base fluid is the continuous phase; an invert emulsion may contain an internal brine phase. Organoclay is a rheology-building component of the complete formulation. It does not replace emulsifiers, weighting material or a dedicated filtration package. This page covers ordinary OBM/SBM selection; the HPHT page owns elevated-temperature verification.

How does organoclay support suspension and hole cleaning?

When adequately dispersed, organophilic clay particles develop a recoverable network that can contribute to yield point, gel strength and low-shear suspension. That structure can help hold cuttings and barite when circulation changes. It must be balanced against excessive gel and equivalent circulating density in the full mud. The underlying dispersion mechanism and general viscosity-control problem are explained separately.

Which organoclay grade should be screened?

Candidate	Published product information	Qualification question
CP-982	Product page lists diesel/mineral oil OBM and synthetic base fluid applications; moisture ≤3.5%, ≥95% passing 76 μm	Does the available mixing shear create the required gel in the actual base oil?
CP-992	Product page lists diesel, low-BTEX mineral oil and internal/linear olefin applications; moisture ≤3.5%, ≥95% passing 100 μm	Does it reach the required low-shear rheology in the low-aromatic or synthetic system?
CP-31	Product page states self-activating, no external activator required	Is a self-activating route needed and validated in the complete mud?

These are published powder specifications and applications, not guaranteed mud-performance values. Obtain current TDS, SDS and lot COA for procurement. The Product Finder lists the wider grade range.

What test data should appear in an OBM selection report?

Parameter	Report the condition	Why it is needed
Density and oil/water ratio	Before and after weighting	Makes trials comparable
600/300 rpm plus low-shear readings	Test temperature and instrument	Separates high-shear load from low-shear structure
Yield point and 10-second/10-minute gel	Before and after rest	Shows suspension/restart behavior
Electrical stability	Same mud, same temperature	Checks the invert emulsion response
Static or dynamic sag	Inclination, time, temperature	Tests weighting-material stability
Filtration	Test medium, differential pressure, temperature, duration	Checks the whole mud; see fluid loss control

Use the applicable oil-based fluid procedures in ISO 10414-2 or the current API RP 13B-2 procedure selected by your lab. Naming a procedure does not certify a product.

How should the grade be dispersed and added?

For a controlled screening trial, charge the selected base oil, add the candidate powder gradually under the shear specified in its TDS, allow it to disperse, then add emulsifier and the internal phase under the validated formulation sequence. Add weighting material in stages, checking rheology again after the final formulation is complete. CP-982’s public page calls for high-shear mixing and adding it before emulsifiers; CP-992’s page describes hopper addition and lower shear demand. Confirm whether any polar activator is needed for the exact grade and oil; do not assume CP-992 is self-activating.

When is this page’s recommendation unsuitable, and what should be troubleshot?

This route does not apply to water-based mud or a solids-free completion brine. If yield point is low, check wetting, base-oil compatibility, shear, addition order and activator plan before increasing dose. If sag persists despite a high gel reading, inspect solids loading, particle distribution, emulsifier balance and the sag method. If plastic viscosity or restart pressure becomes excessive, compare a lower dose or another grade under matched conditions. If electrical stability falls, evaluate the emulsion as a system rather than attributing the change to organoclay alone.

Is there a field case or verified dose to copy?

Published treat ranges are starting points for a controlled screening trial, not field specifications. Ask for the underlying formulation, test method and conditions behind any case data before applying it to a different mud. Set the final dose from the buyer’s complete formulation and acceptance tests.

Frequently asked questions

Is OBM organoclay the same as untreated bentonite? No. Organophilic surface treatment is used so the clay can be screened in an oil-continuous phase.

Which is the first CP grade to evaluate for diesel OBM? CP-982 is a published diesel OBM candidate; CP-992 may also be screened when its dispersion profile fits the mixing system.

Which grade should be compared in synthetic oil? CP-992 has published synthetic/low-aromatic applications; compare it with other documented candidates in the actual base fluid.

Does a higher gel always mean better hole cleaning? No. Check low-shear transport, pumpability, sag and restart behavior together.

Can organoclay replace a fluid-loss additive? Not as a general claim. Measure the full formulation’s filtration and use a dedicated package when required.

Must I use an activator? The answer depends on grade, oil and TDS. CP-31 is publicly described as self-activating; do not extend that label to every grade.

How do I request a sample? Send the base-oil identity, mud density, oil/water ratio and target tests through contact.

Request technical guidance

Request CP-982/CP-992 samples, current TDS/SDS and a formulation review. Also browse solvent-based grades.

By CP Organoclay · Updated 24 September 2026. For grade-specific technical review, contact the Camp-Shinning Application Technology Team with your complete fluid formulation and test conditions.