Bentonite
Sodium bentonite clay for drilling-fluid base, civil engineering slurry walls, and foundry sand bond. API 13A grades available.
Overview
Bentonite is a sodium-rich clay mineral — primarily montmorillonite — that swells dramatically when hydrated, forming a gel-like suspension prized for its viscosity, filtrate control, and wellbore-sealing properties. FiveRivers Materials supplies bentonite in both API 13A drilling grade and industrial grades for civil engineering, foundry, and industrial applications.
In drilling operations, bentonite is the foundational mud-building chemical — typically 20–30 lb/bbl in conventional water-based mud systems. The clay’s plate-like particle structure builds viscosity at low concentrations, controls filtrate loss into the formation, and provides shale inhibition in reactive formations. Industrial-grade bentonite serves civil engineering (slurry walls, tunneling), foundry green sand bonding, iron ore pelletizing, and geosynthetic clay liner manufacturing.
Technical Specifications
Packaging Options
Applications by Industry
Oil & Gas
- ◢ Drilling-fluid viscosifier — primary mud-building agent
- ◢ Filtrate control in water-based muds
- ◢ Wellbore stability — shale inhibition
- ◢ Cement additive — lost-circulation control
- ◢ Horizontal drilling — hole cleaning
Industrial
- ◢ Civil engineering — slurry walls, diaphragm walls, tunneling
- ◢ Foundry — green sand bond
- ◢ Iron ore pelletizing binder
- ◢ Cat litter and absorbent products
- ◢ Geosynthetic clay liners — landfill, pond
Regulatory & Certifications
Storage & Handling
Stocking & Logistics
Inventory held at the operational hubs listed below. Direct FCL from origin (Mumbai / Ahmedabad / China) available for buyers requiring custom specs, branded packaging, or origin documentation.