Barite 4.20

Barite is the primary, naturally occurring, barium-based mineral. Barium, atomic number 56, derives its name from Greek and means heavy. Barite is also known as baryte. The primary countries in which commercial deposits of barite are currently found are the United States, China, India and Morocco. Barite’s high density and chemical inertness make it an ideal mineral for many applications.

The chemical formula for barite is BaSO4. To be economically viable for extraction, barite usually needs to be the predominant material in a deposit. The types of deposits in which it is normally found include vein, residual, and bedded. Vein and residual deposits are of hydrothermal origin, while bedded deposits are sedimentary.

The overwhelming majority of the barite that is mined is used by the petroleum industry as a weighting material in the formulation of drilling mud.  Barite increases the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud allowing it to compensate for high-pressure zones experienced during drilling, thus suppressing high formation pressures and preventing blowouts. 

The softness of the mineral also prevents it from damaging drilling tools during drilling and enables it to serve as a lubricant. 

As a well is drilled, the bit passes through various formations, each with different characteristics. The deeper the hole, the more barite is needed as a percentage of the total mud mix. An additional benefit of barite is that it is non-magnetic and thus does not interfere with magnetic measurements taken in the borehole, either during logging-while-drilling or in separate drill hole logging.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has established specifications for the use of barite in drilling mud.

To meet these specifications, the barite is finely ground so that at least 97% of the material, by weight, can pass through a 200-mesh (75-μm) screen, and no more than 30%, by weight, can be less than 6 μm diameter. The ground barite also must be dense enough so that its specific gravity is 4.2 or greater, soft enough to not damage the bearings of a drill bit, chemically inert, and contain no more than 250 milligrams per kilogram of soluble alkaline salts. In August 2010 API (American Petroleum Institute) published specifications to modify the 4.2 drilling grade standards for barite to include 4.1 SG materials.

Sources: Industrial Minerals Association North America
Wikipedia

API 13A SEC 7; 4.2, Conforming to API 13A: 2010/ ISO 13500: 2009
Packing: in 1.5 MT full loop jumbo bags

PROPERTY REQUIRED
Density 4.20 min
Water Soluble Alkaline earth Metals as Calcium 250 mg/kg, max
Residue greater than 75 microns 3.0 % max
Particles less than 6 microns 30.0 % max

Material Safety Data Sheet

1. Other Names
Baryte, Barite, BaSO4.

2. SAP No
1000064976.

3. Supplier
Oman Drilling Mud Products Co.LLC.

4. Composition
Single compound, 98% m/m pure.

5. Appearance and odour
White to yellowish, odourless, tasteless powder.

6. Usage
Weighting material in drilling fluids.

7. Physical properties at 20 C, 1013 mbar
Density (kg/m3): 4250 - 4500
Boiling Point (°C): 1149
Melting Point (°C): 1580
Flash Point (°C):
Auto ignition temp (°C):
Flammability limit (%v/v):
Rel. vapour density (air=1):
Vapour pressure (mbar):
Kinematic viscosity (mm2/s):
Solubility in water (kg/m3): 0.0025e
pH: @ 8.0
Particle size (micron): 2 - 75

8. Important characteristics
Incompatibilities: aluminium, phosphorus Occupational.
exposure limit TLV (ACGIH): TWA 10mg/m3 (nuisance particulates).

9. Safety hazards
Fire: non-combustible, toxic fumes.
Stability: stable.

10. Safety precautions
Control confined spaces.
Keep dry.

11. Fire extinguishing agents
No limitations.

12. Fire fighting precautions
Breathing apparatus, protective clothing.

13. Health hazards
Inhalation: nuisance dust.
Skin: no effect.
Eyes: nuisance dust.
Ingestion: no effect.

14. First aid
Remove to fresh air.
Wash with water, use soap, flush with water.
Obtain medical attention if eye irritation persists.
Obtain medical attention.
DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.

15. Personal protection
Normal usage: chemical mono-goggles, PVC gloves.
In the event of inhalation risk wear general purpose dust respirator NPF 7 - 10.
Spill control/clean-up: as above.

16. Environmental hazards
Insignificantly toxic to fish and aquatic vertebrates, practically non-toxic to plants (see 22).

17. Environmental precautions
Avoid gross contamination of soil and water.

18. Spillage mitigation (see also 15)
Scoop up and collect in container, disperse remainder with plenty of water.

19. Disposal options
Preferred: dispose of at (controlled) landfill site.
Acceptable: as above.
THE DISPOSAL OPTION CHOSEN MUST BE ACCEPTABLE WITHIN THE REQUIREMENTS OF OPERATIVE LEGLISATION.

20. Storage
Separate from aluminium, keep dry, avoid dust.

21. Packing and labelling
Multiwall sacks or big bags.
UN number:
Label: No label required.

22. Supplementary information
Health:
Safety: explosion when heated with aluminium.
Environment: Baryte may. contain leachable heavy metals.