MLchartDataset catalogue

Balanced-activity oil mud

Term · Oil and gas · MLC-T-OAG-000258

An oil-based or synthetic-based drilling fluid whose internal water phase has been treated to match the water activity of the formation being drilled. By adjusting the salinity of the mud's aqueous phase with salts like calcium chloride, the osmotic pressure is controlled to prevent water transfer between the mud and sensitive shale formations. A balanced state minimizes shale swelling or dehydration, which could otherwise lead to wellbore instability.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-OAG-000258
FieldOil and gas
SubjectDrilling Fluids
Record as JSON 
{
  "id": "MLC-T-OAG-000258",
  "term": "Balanced-activity oil mud",
  "field": "Oil and gas",
  "definition": "An oil-based or synthetic-based drilling fluid whose internal water phase has been treated to match the water activity of the formation being drilled. By adjusting the salinity of the mud's aqueous phase with salts like calcium chloride, the osmotic pressure is controlled to prevent water transfer between the mud and sensitive shale formations. A balanced state minimizes shale swelling or dehydration, which could otherwise lead to wellbore instability.",
  "subject": "Drilling Fluids",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oil-and-gas/balanced-activity-oil-mud/"
}

Record 281 of 4,499 in Oil and gas terminology (MLC-0103). Request the full dataset.