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DRILLING FLUID SYSTEMS
WATER BASED MUDS
Water-based muds (WBM) provide more cost-effective wellsite operations compared to expensive base oils such as diesel. Plus, they offer the added benefit of being safer to use in environmentally sensitive areas.
WBM are great for lower environmental footprint compared to oil and synethic systems. They help lower overall costs, don't require haul off, and are safer.

Inhibited water-based drilling systems include gypson mud, lime mud and saturated saltwater muds such as Sodium Chloride and Calcium Chloride polymer systems. These systems can be formulated with different polymers and additives to maximize ROP and inhibition. The wide range of polymers available mean that Panther can customize the mud system for any type of drilling situation or formation encountered.
- BENEFITS
- APPLICATIONS
Lower environmental footprint
Lower cost
Shale inhibition
Customizable
High pressures
High temperatures

Dispersed drilling systems include lignite and lignosulfonate additives which are solids and contaminate tolerant. These systems are typically used for higher mud weights and can be formulated for HTHP environments. The fluid characteristics make them ideal for high ROP drilling.
- BENEFITS
- APPLICATIONS
Lower environmental footprint
Lower cost
Treated with chemical dispersants
Improves rheology control
Faster ROP, torque and drag reduction
Higher mud weights
High ROP drilling
HP/HT environments
OIL BASED MUDS
Oil-based muds (OBM) have an oil or synthetic base fluid as the external phase and brine as the internal phase. The main use of oil and synthetic systems is to prevent water from entering the pore spaces and causing formation damage and borehole instability.
OBM assist in shale inhibition, reduce torque and drag, provide thermal stability, and have a resistance to chemical contamination. They also perform best in high temperatures, extended reach wells, heavy muds, and shale formations.

Invert emulsion systems are the most commonly used oil mud systems. They include a combination of invert emulsion diesel base, rheology and fluid loss control additives, and other additives to form a fragile gel when used in drilling. Low colloidal content enables the suspension of drill cuttings and other solids to provide superior suspension and hole-cleaning characteristics, viscosity control and fluid loss control. They are often selected when reliable shale inhibition and bit/drillstring lubricity is needed.
- BENEFITS
- APPLICATIONS
Provides good stability and performance properties: lubricity, temperature tolerance, and ability to inhibit reactive clays
Provides rheology and fluid loss control as well as desired suspension properties
Enables increased ROP while drilling
Onshore and zero-discharge drilling operations
Swelling or sloughing shales, salt, gypsum, anhydrite or other evaporate formations
H2S wells
High-temperature wells

Direct emulsion systems use field brine and diesel to control density while drilling and to avoid losses in under-pressured zones. They are often utilized in salt formation drilling to reduce washout.
- BENEFITS
- APPLICATIONS
Good cuttings suspension and hole cleaning
C10High tolerance to contamination and H2S
Lubricity
Drilling in under-pressured zones
Drilling in salt zones
HPHT

Synthetic-based invert emulsion systems use synthetic base oils as the external phase and water as the internal phase. The system is formulated to deliver stable rheological and filtration control in any formation but provides higher temperature limits than standard emulsion systems.
- BENEFITS
- APPLICATIONS
Improved wellbore stability, higher ROP, good hole cleaning and reduced torque
Reduced environmental impact of cuttings and liquid mud compared to diesel-based systems
Offshore and Deepwater
HPHT
Deep Wells
Northeast
Any area where there are environmental concerns
DRILLING FLUID ADDITIVES
Our line of custom-designed and performance-driven specialty fluid additives help keep shale formations in check and your drilling rates high. Panther’s fluid experts can recommend an additive and treatment program designed for your basin, formations, and wells to help you reduce risk and keep wells on track.

High clay content commonly found in shales can cause swelling due to water absorption and dispersion of the clay particles. If not treated, this can lead to wellbore problems due to sloughing, increased caving production and hole instability. Our line of blended shale inhibitors can reduce swelling and dispersion, while protecting the wellbore. Panther’s systems can be adapted for both WBM and OBM muds.

Mud losses present a constant risk to drilling operations. They can be expensive, cause massive downtime, and, in extreme cases, result in unplanned sidetracks. Our proprietary LS7 lost circulation material (LCM) brings a unique multicomponent blend that is compatible with both WBM and OBM fluids. It is specially formulated to reduce the risk of losses while drilling through depleted zones.

Our proprietary blend of lubricants are a fit for all brine and freshwater systems. Useful in long laterals, they help reduce downhole torque and drag, and combat differential sticking. Panther’s lubricants are commonly used in wells drilled with both motors and rotary steerable systems. We recommend running a 2-3% lubricant by volume depending on the mud system used.
