AES Drilling Fluids

How does the internal phase affect an oil-based mud? Tune into this episode of The Flowline - OBM Series as Matt and Justin talk about the internal phase, how it affects many aspects of a well and much more.

Tune into this new Oil-Based Mud Series as Matt and Justin talk about viscosifiers, how they work - and the advantages and limitations that they bring.

Not all makeup water used for drilling fluids is created equal. How can you tell if the water on location is compatible? Matt and Justin run through some checks and considerations before you get mixing.

Another listener's request just came in from LinkedIn! Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin discuss filter breakers – what they are, how they work, and when they are used.

MSE (Mechanical Specific Energy) isn't directly tied to drilling fluids, but drilling fluids touches just about everything. Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin discuss what MSE is, how it affects drilling fluids, and much more.

Is "Surfactant" something you would like to learn more about? Tune in for this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin answer questions on what surfactant does, what hydrophile-lipophile balance is, and much more!

How can E&P operators and service providers create and maintain a successful relationship? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin answer a series of questions on the relationship between operators and service providers.

AES is always innovating in new, exciting technology. With AI at the forefront of technology, how could AI apply to the mud world? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin discuss use cases for AI to solve drilling fluid problems.

Are you paying attention to the gel strength on your mud reports? Tune into this episode of The Flowline with Matt and Justin as they explain gel strength, the issues with progressive gels, and much more!

Have you ever wondered what the life of a mud engineer is like? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin give insights on their career paths, how they transitioned from the field to the office, and much more!

Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin discusses scale inhibitors.

Horseshoe wells are in the news again. Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt revisit the horseshoe well concept and some fluid practices to make sure these distinctive wells succeed.

How is the oil and gas industry doing from an investor's standpoint? Join us on this exciting episode of The Flowline as Matt and Josh Young, Chief Investment Officer and Founder of Bison Interests, dive into the overview of our industry.

Continuing our Water-Based Mud series, Justin and Matt talk about the different types of defoamers, how they work - and things to avoid needing them in the first place.

One of the main culprits of thick water-based mud is flocculation. Thinners are one of the solutions for this issue. Tune into this episode of the WBM Series as Matt and Justin delve into the properties and use cases of thinners.

A Flowline listener asked about glycols and choosing the cloud point for the best shale inhibition performance. Justin and Matt provide more detail on glycols and a strategy for selection.

Water and clays aren't always the best combination. What are the water-based mud products that inhibit shale interaction? Tune into this episode of The #Flowline - WBM Series as Matt and Justin discuss shale inhibitors!

Depending on the drilling conditions, alkalinity and pH need to be a fine-tuned science. In this episode of the #WBM Series, Alkalinity, Matt and Justin discuss the sources of alkaline, how they work, and where they fit into the whole picture!

Tune into this Water-Based Mud Series episode as Justin and Matt sits down to discuss why filtration control agents are used, incompatibility with cationic and anionic products, and much more!

Water-based muds require viscosifiers compatible with the base fluid. Several kinds of viscosifiers provide quality hole cleaning and solid-suspension characteristics. Tune into this episode of the #WBM Series as Matt and Justin discuss why viscosifiers are needed, the different kinds of viscosifiers, and much more!

In this new series of The #Flowline, Matt and Justin go in-depth into water-based mud. Each episode will break down different components and key functions of WBM. Tune into this episode of the #WBM Series, as our hosts talk about all things base fluid in water-based mud.

Too often, we assume there is sag and cause the ensuing panic. But, do we really have sag? Tune into this episode of the Flowline, as Matt and Justin dive into the conditions that induce sag, evidence-based questions to diagnose sag, and much more!

In this episode of The #Flowline, we answer a listener's request. What is "AES Culture" and what makes us unique? Tune into this exciting episode as Matt and Justin share their perspective on our company's culture.

One of our lab's most requested tests is XRD (X-ray diffraction). So, why has it become such a buzzword? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt break down what it is, why it's useful, and its added value.

Looking for a new book or movie to dive into?

Can you really hate an inanimate molded piece of plastic? Justin talks to Matt about the sag shoe test - what it is...and why he hates it.

Altered volcanic ash can create havoc while drilling. Justin and Matt break down why it's an issue – and anything you can do when encountering this troublesome material.

Justin and Matt talk about screen blinding - what it is, what you can do about it, and why people sometimes get it wrong.

There's lots of buzz about PFAS (poly-fluoroalkyl substances). We don't use them, but people keep asking about them like we do. Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt explain what PFAS are, how they are used, and why we don't use them.

It's 2024 and things are picking up. So, let's analyze 2024's landscape, navigating knowns and confronting uncertainties. Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin talk about what they think lies ahead this year.

Other than cheap, what is ABO (Asphaltene based oil)? How can it help (or hurt) a drilling fluid? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt discuss the pros and cons of ABO, and much more.

Lubricant testing is notoriously inconsistent. The data can cause misleading insights and requires both working knowledge and lots of skepticism to make an interpretation. As you might guess, Matt hates lubricant testing.

There are lots of diesel alternatives, and GTL is a synthetic oil that's made some appearances in the land drilling market. What is it? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt dive into what GTL is, where it comes from, and what we get out of using it.

pH and alkalinity share similarities, but have differences worth defining. So, tune into this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt run through the distinctions as they relate to water-based muds.

You're drilling with a finely dispersed mud and then you take a flow. It's time to swap systems. Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin run through this scenario and things to think about when drilling doesn't go according to plan.

Every once in a while, someone asks "Can I break this polymer mud and reuse the brine?". Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Justin and Matt break down why this process is so complicated, especially in xanthan-based systems.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Diesel is a common drilling fluid additive, but there is not just one kind of diesel. This has implications for drilling fluid properties. Tune in to this episode of The Flowline Justin and Matt discuss these variances and what to do about them to keep drilling ahead.

Drilling fluids continue to evolve, but where did they originate? How have they evolved with drilling technology? Tune into this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin walk through some key moments and technologies that got us to where we are today.

The discussions around LCM are constantly evolving, and The Flowline is here to provide updated information!

As Thanksgiving approaches, we at The Flowline would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our listeners. We hope that you have many things to be thankful for, just as we do. Tune in to this special episode of The Flowline as our hosts, Matt Offenbacher and Justin Gauthier, share their gratitude for this year.

Drilling efficiencies have made big strides over the years. This raises the question, how might this advancement impact drilling fluids? Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin delve into this question and more on drilling efficiencies!

Let's be honest, it's not often that somebody comes to the table asking, "Hey, why don't we just add diesel?" Diesel as a lubricant comes with its own set of rules and regulations, so tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin delve into the applications of diesel!

Mud technology may seem to stagnate, but is it? New applications are being discovered, and as a result, research is also surfacing. Join Matt and Justin in this episode of The Flowline as they discuss the mud technologies that impact rigs today.

Desanders and desilters move around with rigs, but they seem to be rarely used. So, what are the benefits of these machines and why aren't they being used? Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin explore the topic of desander and desilter in solids control.

In this week's episode of The Flowline, Matt and Justin answer a listener's question: How can a leader overcome challenges in the field, office, labs, and plants? What are some of the lessons learned to avoid repeating the same mistakes? If you have a question of your own, please leave a comment or send us a message, we'll love to hear from you!

Did you know that many things we use in the oil field are also in your kitchen? Polysaccharide, which is a carbohydrate (e.g. starch and cellulose), is one example of this! Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin explain the chemistry behind polysaccharides in water-based muds!

Grab your lab coats and safety goggles for this episode, it's time for a little chemistry refresher. Join Matt and Justin as they delve into the chemistry behind esters as a lubricant.

Want to learn how something great starts? In this episode, we sit down with Ken Zinger, CEO of CES Energy Solutions, the parent company of AES Drilling Fluids. Join Matt Offenbacher and Justin Gauthier, MSc, as they gain insight into Ken's career, business philosophy, and how he evolved his passion for drilling fluids into a multi-faceted corporation.

It's back-to-school season for the kids, but school is always in session with us! Mud school has been a way for us to educate our customers on drilling fluids and applications to drive discussions in the industry. Tune in to this episode of The Flowline as Matt and Justin discuss the conversations sparked by these mud schools!