Hercules Incorporated

Aqualon
Oil and Gas Technologies
A Business Unit of Hercules Incorporated
1313 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894-0001, U.S.A.

Technical Information
BULLETIN VC-655

AquaFLOTM HV
Standard Grade High-Viscosity Polyanionic Cellulose
Viscosity and Filtration Control Aid
for Water-Based Drilling Fluids

AquaFLOTM HV polymer is a standard grade high-viscosity polyanionic cellulose that effectively

reduces the API filtration rate of many water-based drilling fluids and is also used to increase viscosity and
improve hole cleaning in a wide variety of fluid environments. Because it is effective at low concentrations,
AquaFLO HV polymer provides a cost-effective means of improving water-based drilling fluid performance.

AquaFLO HV Performance in a Low-Solids Mud

Fluid: freshwater, bentonite and drilled solids

50

Apparent Viscosity
40 40
API Filtration Rate, ml

Apparent Viscosity, cps

Filtration Rate

30 30

21.1
20 20

10 8.9 8.0 10
6.9

0.0 0.25 0.5 0.75

AquaFLO HV Concentration, lb/bbl

(over)
The products and related information provided by Hercules are for manufacturing use only. Hercules
makes no express, implied, or other representation, warranty, or guarantee concerning (i) the handling, use,
or application of such products, whether alone, in combination with other products, or otherwise, (ii) the
completeness, definitiveness, or adequacy of such information for user’s or other purposes, (iii) the quality
of such products, except that such products are of Hercules’ standard quality. Users are advised to make
their own tests to determine the safety and suitability of each such product or product combination for their
own purposes. Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) before using this product.
Hercules does not recommend any use of its products that would violate any patent or other rights.
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Description
AquaFLOTM HV polymer is a standard quality, high-viscosity polyanionic cellulose designed for water-
based drilling fluids (see performance table below).
Functions
AquaFLO HV polymer may be used efficiently to perform the following functions:
• Reduce the filtration rate of the drilling fluid
• Increase and improve the fluid rheology, including suspension and hole cleaning
• Stabilize fluid rheology in the presence of contaminants
• Coat and encapsulate cuttings and solids in the drilling fluid, thereby inhibiting the swelling and dis-
integration of water-sensitive solids
• Improve the character and consistency of wallcake, thereby reducing the potential for stuck pipe
Applicable Fluid Types
AquaFLO HV polymer is applicable in the following general types of fluid systems:
• Freshwater muds
• Seawater muds
• Saltwater muds (up to and including saturation)
• KCl muds
• Solids-free brines (NaCl and KCl)
• Native muds

Typical Product Performance

The following information illustrates the typical performance of AquaFLO HV polymer in various
types of fluid systems. All fluids were formulated using additives and mixing/formulation techniques
commonly employed in the industry.
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AquaFLOTM HV Performance vs Concentration

In Low-Solids Fluids
AquaFLO HV Conc., Fann Viscosity, cPs Yield Point, API Filt. Rate,
lb/bbl AV PV lb/100 ft2 ml/30 min
Freshwater*
Blank 4 5 -2 21.1
0.25 17 12 10 8.9
0.50 29 15 28 8.0
0.75 47 26 42 6.9
Seawater mud**
Blank 7.5 5 9 49.5
0.50 6 6 0 12.5
0.75 9 8 2 9.2
1.0 13.5 11 5 7.5
Saturated saltwater mud***
Blank 3 3 0 350.0
0.50 6.5 7 -1 38
0.75 11.5 10 3 16.7
1.0 15.5 12 7 10.6
*10 lb/bbl prehydrated bentonite, 15 lb/bbl drilled solids.
**4% NaCl, 10 lb/bbl prehydrated bentonite, 15 lb/bbl drilled solids.
***25 lb/bbl drilled solids.
Drilled solids simulated with Rev Dust.
All fluids aged 24 hours prior to measuring properties.
Some variations in laboratory results may occur due to differences in additives and make-up technique.

AquaFLO HV Performance vs Concentration

In Solids-Free Fluids
AquaFLO HV Conc., Fann Viscosity, cPs Yield Point,
lb/bbl AV PV lb/100 ft2
Freshwater fluid*
0.5 11 7 8
1.0 20 11 18
1.5 30.5 15 31
2.0 43 20 46
Saturated saltwater fluid**
0.5 7 7 0
1.0 16 13 6
1.5 28.5 18 21
2.0 44.5 22 45
*Deionized water
**NaCl
All fluids aged 24 hours prior to measuring properties.
Some variations in laboratory results may occur due to differences in additives and make-up technique.

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Features and Benefits

AquaFLOTM HV polymer is a quality product that provides numerous direct and indirect benefits when
incorporated into water-based drilling fluid systems. Among these are the following:
• AquaFLO HV polymer is versatile. Functioning across a broad range of physical and chemical condi-
tions. It is efficient in fresh, salty, or salt-saturated environments, and it functions in seawater and
other mixed-salt environments and in systems having low or high pH.
• AquaFLO HV polymer is efficient. In most mud systems, only small treatments are required to
control filtration rates and viscosity. AquaFLO HV’s purity and quality insure that its beneficial prop-
erties are achieved at minimal concentration.
• AquaFLO HV polymer is compatible with virtually all additives for water-based drilling fluid systems.
• AquaFLO HV polymer is essentially nontoxic; it may be added to drilling fluids with minimal impact
on the 96-hour LC50 toxicity values.

Application Considerations
As with any product, AquaFLO HV polymer should be used within its limitations and applied properly
to achieve the maximum economic benefit.
Mixing
AquaFLO HV polymer is a high-viscosity product and should be mixed slowly through conventional
mud hoppers. Best results are obtained when the product is mixed at a uniform rate no faster than the mix-
ing equipment can handle. Avoid dumping the polymer into the hopper (slugging) as this promotes the for-
mation of lumps or “fisheyes” that retard dispersion and reduce efficiency.
Contaminant Tolerance
AquaFLO HV polymer will tolerate many water-soluble salts commonly encountered in oilfield appli-
cations. In order to achieve optimum performance of the product, however, certain contaminants should be
avoided or reduced to acceptable levels of concentration. Monovalent salts, such as sodium and potassium,
are generally compatible at any concentration. Divalent salts, such as calcium and magnesium, are tolerated
to a limited extent in the lower (7.5-9.5) pH range. At higher pH, this tolerance is diminished and product
efficiency is reduced. As a general rule, trivalent ions form insoluble salts with AquaFLO HV polymer.
Solutions containing significant amounts of zinc are not compatible with AquaFLO HV polymer. Its toler-
ance to many contaminants can be improved or extended by presolubilizing it in water before adding it to
any system containing high levels of contaminants. Simultaneous additions of AquaFLO HV polymer and
divalent salts should be avoided.
Thermal Thinning and Thermal Degradation
Fluids containing AquaFLO HV polymer exhibit reduced viscosities at elevated temperatures. This vis-
cosity decrease with temperature is called thermal thinning and is to a certain degree recoverable. All
polyanionic cellulose products (including AquaFLO HV polymer) begin to chemically degrade at elevated
temperatures. The threshold temperature and rate of degradation depend upon a number of factors.
Principal factors in drilling fluids include: exposure temperature, oxygen concentration, the type and con-
centration of salts present, pH, and fluid shear rate. In general, temperature thinning should become notice-
able above 85°F, and thermal degradation should be expected at temperatures in excess of 250°F. The
temperature at which degradation becomes noticeable may be increased and the rate at which it proceeds
may be decreased by reducing: the concentration of oxygen, incompatible salts, time of exposure to elevated
temperatures, pH, and fluid shear rate. Fluids containing AquaFLO HV polymer and formulated taking
these factors into consideration may be used successfully at bottom-hole temperatures in excess of 300°F.
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Product Safety and Environmental Information

Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet for AquaFLOTM HV polyanionic cellulose polymer
before using this product.
Practice good industrial hygiene when using this product.
Surfaces subject to spills and dusting can become slippery when wet; exercise caution and sweep up
spills promptly.
AquaFLO HV polymer is essentially non-toxic and has minimal impact on the toxicity of fluid systems.

Shipping and Handling

AquaFLO HV polymer is packaged in clearly marked 50-lb multiwall kraft bags, palletized, and
stretch-wrapped for handling convenience. It is shipped from plants and warehouses strategically located in
the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

9-07

© Hercules Incorporated, 2007.

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