The difference between imported and locally made bentonite.

Bentonite is now used extensively throughout the world in drilling, but the cost of
transporting original Wyoming bentonite from the USA has led to the use alternatives from
other sources.
It is important to recognise that the properties of bentonite from different sources vary, and
these variation is taken into account when deciding on the suitability of a particular bentonite
for a specific purpose.
The purpose of this document is to provide information on the difference between imported
and locally sourced bentonite with respect to composition and specifications.

Imported bentonite
The imported bentonite used by Fenog Nigeria Limited is the Wyoming type Wplus
manufactured by Phrikolat Germany. Phrikolat bentonite W plus is an extra high yield
Wyoming type sodium bentonite with high montmorillonite content. The primary
composition is sodium allumino-silicates. ( Al2O3.4(SiO2).H2O) It is a proprietary blended
single bag product, using a very fine grain bentonite and a specially chosen polymer additive.
It is a carefully blended bentonite developed for the difficult and changing ground conditions
as encountered in horizontal directional drilling.
Natural sodium bentonite is characterised by very high swelling ability, high liquid limit and
low filter loss.
The rheological characteristics of this sodium bentonite (i.e. their behaviour as bentonite
slurries when mixed with water) influence their suitability for use in drilling operations.
Imported bentonite, when dispersed in water under conditions of high shear mixing, break
down into minute plate-like particles, negatively charged on their surfaces and positively
charged along their edges.

Typically, if 3% or more of the imported bentonite is dispersed in water, a viscous slurry is
formed which is thick when allowed to stand but thin when agitated.
This phenomenon is known as thixotropy, and results from the orientation of the plate-like
particles within the slurry.
When the slurry is allowed to stand, the plate-like particles become orientated. Electrical
bonding forces between the particles form an interlocking structure which causes the slurry to
gel. When the gel is agitated, the electrical bonds are broken and the slurry becomes fluid,
with the particles orientated in random fashion

The imported bentonite complies with the API specifications 13A which is not so for the
locally sourced bentonite.
The main difference in the specifications are in the requirements for the rheological
properties and filtrate loss of the slurry. The rheological properties of the slurry at different
rates of shear are determined using a direct reading viscometer. Filtrate loss is determined
using a filter press. Below is an API rheology test conducted between the imported and
locally sourced bentonite. The Best Land and Sea product does not meet the API standards or
requirement while the foreign bentonite complies with all the required API standards.








Drilling Mud Analysis

Customer Pan Ocean
Mud type FENOG BENTONITE VS BEST LAND AND SEA.
Subject Mud Analysis


Sample No. 4(FENOG) 5(BLS)
Date 11/05/2014 11/05/2014
Time 03:00 03:00
Period Aged (Hours)
Laboratory Temperature
(C) 21:36 21:36
Products [kg/m
3
] Supplier FENOG BLS


Bentonite g/litre 60 60

Soda Ash g/litre 1 1




Make-up water

Volume [Ltr] 2 2

pH 6.5(9.56) 6.47(9.45)

Hardness Test ppt 0.08 0.08
Hardness Test [dH]
Chloride Test (Cl
-
) [mg/l]
Conductivity (EC) [S/cm] 0.16 0.17



Conductivity (TDS) [ppm]



Carbonate Hardness [d]



Temperature [C] 24 24





Mud physical properties

Temperature [C]
Density In / Out [g/cm
3
] 1.02 1.01
Marsh Funnel Viscosity [s] 60 25
Marsh Funnel Gelation [s]


Shear Test [lbs/100 ft]
Filter Cake Thickness [mm] 0.03 0.3
API filtrate loss [ml] 10 19.5
Sand Content [%] 0.1 0.1


Mud API Rheology

Fann reading 600 [rpm] 61 8
Fann reading 300
[rpm]
47 5
Fann reading 200
[rpm]
40 4
Fann reading 100
[rpm]
33 3
Fann reading 6
[rpm]
12 1
Fann reading 3
[rpm]
10 1

LSYP [lbs/100 ft] 8 1
Plastic viscosity [cPs] 14 3
Yield point [lbs/100 ft] 33 2
10 second gel [lbs/100 ft] 15 2
10 minute gel [lbs/100 ft] 15 2




The rheological formulation of our locally sourced bentonite clay in substitute for the
imported foreign bentonite clay was carried out by the comparative analysis of the
parameters of the local mud with the stipulated API standard values to ascertain the level
of compliance in drilling operation. The local muds PH values responded positively on
beneficiation with 1.0g of soda ash, the modification raised the muds PH values to fall within
the standard range of 9.5 to 12.5. The viscosity of the local muds was seen to be below the
standard requirement of 30cp, but appreciated favourably to the standard
requirement when beneficiated with 3.0g of PAC R. On beneficiating the foreign
bentonite muds, with the same quantity of additives used on other mud samples, there was
an excessive abnormal increase in its viscosity.

The locally sourced bentonite does not have additional polymer blended with it, thereby
having a very low yield when mixed. It also does not swell when allow to stay for several
hours.it has a poor gelling ability or strength.
The main composition of these bentonite is Attapulgite, china clay and ball clays which has a
low capacity on cation exchange. Consequently, they are characterised by a low swelling
ability, low liquid limit and a high filter loss.