Application

• Primarily used as a shale inhibitor as the potassium ion exchanges with calcium and sodium ions in the interlayer space in illites and smectites, converting them to more stable mica-type structures that do not hydrate and swell
• Used to prepare brines for drill-in, completion, and workover fluids

Advantages

• Widely used in the industry
• Largely benign salt; solutions are neutral pH
• Does not significantly impair performance of polymers such as viscosifiers and filtration controllers

Usage

Potassium chloride is used at concentrations of 10 to 37 lb/bbl (28.5 to 105.6 kg/m3) for shale-inhibition purposes. Actual level is based on shale testing and knowledge of the formation. Therefore, some operators use as much as 80.5 lb/bbl (230 kg/m3) as determined by wellbore stability modeling.

For application in dense brines, refer to brine tables.

Consult the MSDS, safety posters, and/or product label before use, and use personal protective equipment as advised.

Packaging