Sulphonated Asphalt is widely used around the world to successfully drill oil and gas wells across troublesome shale formations. Sulphonated asphalt’s provides excellent shale inhibition, high-temperature high-pressure (HTHP) fluid loss control, and torque and drag reduction which allow oil companies to drill through very challenging and sensitive shale sections without problems.
Sulphonated asphalt is asphaltic material that has been treated by a specific sulphonation process to be partially soluble/dispersible in water or water-based fluids. As a consequence of the sulphonation process, sulphonated asphalt particles are negatively charged and attracted to shale (positive charge) forming a protective layer on the shale structure and sealing its surface, pores and micro-fractures, reducing HTHP fluid loss and stabilizing the formation. Sulphonated asphalt also helps produce thin filter cake and improves filter cake lubricity reducing torque and drag in long horizontal drilling operations.
Asphaltic materials are not naturally water soluble. To make it soluble and dispersible in water, a specific sulphonation process with a proper sulfonic agent is required. The presence of the sulfonic group (HSO3) makes asphalt partially soluble/dispersible in water and oil.
Many asphaltic materials that claim to be water soluble are not sulphonated but rather treated with surfactants to aid in the dispersion of the non-water-soluble material in water-based fluids. Although apparently water soluble/dispersible, those asphalt additives lack the sulphonate group which is electrically charged and attracted to shale surface and micro-fractures. Many other sulphonated asphalt products are produced using conventional sulphonating agents, such as sulfuric acid, which aren’t necessarily satisfactory for the production of high quality sulphonated asphalt.
Additionally, to ensure a high degree of sulphonation and optimum water-solubility, asphalt or bitumen used in the production process must possess certain properties and composition. The quality of the bitumen, along with the proper and controlled sulphonation process, will determine the degree of sulphonation and ultimately the quality and performance of the sulfonated asphalt. In GCC, the quality of the bitumen used in the manufacture process is tightly controlled from the source and by strict in-house QA/QC.
Our manufacturing plant is designed to precisely control all the phases of the asphalt sulphonation process which allow us to manufacture sulfonated asphalts products of the highest quality, ensuring proper water solubility and dispersion of the asphaltic material and top performance on par with major sulfonated asphalt brands. GCC sulfonated asphalt sodium product brands, CLAYPRO and BORETEX, offer quality and product performance for every drilling application need.
Global Chemical Company operates a high specification Liquid Sulphur Trioxide (SO3) Manufacturing Plant; the only liquid SO3 manufacturing plant in the MENA region.
This plant utilizes Raw Sulphur as the starting material, which is converted to Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) gas via a controlled combustion process, then passed over a catalyst bed to produce Sulphur Trioxide (SO3) gas. The SO3 gas is absorbed and condensed to produce liquid SO3 which is collected and stored in a climate controlled bulk storage area.
This SO3 is then made available for on-site sulphonation of other organic materials within our own facility.
To ensure a high degree of sulphonation and optimum water-solubility, asphalt or bitumen used in the production process must possess certain properties and composition. The quality of the bitumen, along with the proper and controlled sulphonation process, will determine the degree of sulphonation and ultimately the quality and performance of the sulfonated asphalt. In GCC, the quality of the bitumen used in the manufacture process is tightly controlled from the source and by strict in-house QA/QC.
Our manufacturing plant is designed to precisely control all the phases of the asphalt sulphonation process which allow us to manufacture sulfonated asphalts products of the highest quality, ensuring proper water solubility and dispersion of the asphaltic material and top performance on a par with major sulfonated asphalt brands
GCC's Sulphonated Asphalt Sodium products are:
CLAY PRO is a partially soluble/dispersible sulphonated asphalt additive used in water-based and oil-based drilling fluids to inhibit and stabilize shale formations. CLAY PRO improves lubricity, conditions mud rheology and reduces high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) fluid loss. CLAY PRO also improves filtercake quality in both water-based and oil-based muds.
CLAY PRO is packed in 50-lb (22.7 Kg) multi-wall bags.
Request more informationCLAY PRO PLUS is a partially soluble/dispersible sulphonated asphalt additive used in water-based and oil-based drilling fluids to inhibit and stabilize shale formations. CLAY PRO PLUS provides superior shale inhibition without affecting mud rheology negatively. CLAY PRO PLUS improves lubricity, conditions mud rheology and reduces high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) fluid loss. CLAY PRO PLUS also improves filtercake quality in both water-based and oil-based muds.
CLAY PRO PLUS is packed in 50-lb (22.7 Kg) multi-wall bags.
Request more informationFull control over the sulphonated asphalt manufacturing process also allows us to manufacture tailored Sulphonated Asphalt products as per customer’s specifications. Custom packaging and labelling as per client specifications is also available. Contact us if you want us to manufacture your Sulphonated Asphalt additive to your specifications.
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