Oil & Gas Drilling Fluids and Well Materials Hub
API 13A barite and bentonite, weighting and bridging minerals, polymers, brines, oilwell cement, proppant, glycols and OBM base oil
A mud plant is a mineral and chemical consumer on a rig schedule. More than 90% of the barite sold in the United States goes into oil and gas drilling fluids, and the US imported it from India (36%), China (30%), Morocco (17%) and Mexico (13%) over 2019-22, which is the shape of the seaborne barite trade: lump ore from India, Morocco and Mexico to grinding plants on the US Gulf and at regional supply bases. The specifications are written by the American Petroleum Institute. API Spec 13A barite is 4.20 SG minimum (4.10 for the alternative grade), soluble alkaline-earth metals 250 mg/kg maximum and residue above 75 µm 3% maximum; API bentonite gives a 600 rpm dial reading of 30 minimum, a yield-point to plastic-viscosity ratio below 3, filtrate 15 mL maximum and residue above 75 µm 4% maximum; hematite is 5.05 SG minimum; API 10A Class G and H cements are ground clinker with calcium sulphate only, tested at 1,500 psi in 8 hours and a 90-120 minute thickening time; API 19C frac sand is graded 20/40, 30/50, 40/70 and 100 mesh with crush limits of 8% fines at 40/70 and 6% at 70/140. US industrial sand sold or used was about 120 million tons in 2025, 81% of it as frac and well-packing sand. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company. We broker the drilling basket against the producer's certificate of analysis and SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas inspection at load, and because CBIL also runs a chartering desk (LaycanDesk) the Handysize barite or bentonite parcel, the container string of bagged polymers and brines, and the base-oil or glycol tanker parcel are quoted with the cargo. Supply-base geographies are Oman (Duqm, Sohar), Fujairah, the Saudi Red Sea (Yanbu, Jeddah), the US Gulf (Houston, Corpus Christi, New Orleans), West Africa (Onne, Takoradi, Luanda, Pointe-Noire) and Southeast Asia (Labuan, Kemaman, Batam). Base oil and glycol enquiries follow the petroleum screening rules: refinery named on the certificate, inspection at load, no deals built on tank receipts or advance fees.
Procurement & Freight Structure
Dual-loop execution: physical commodity brokerage + ocean charterparty.
One desk covers the bulk mineral parcel to the grinding plant, the bagged chemical container programme to the supply base and the tanker parcel of base oil or glycol, timed to the rig programme rather than to three separate supply chains.
Procured Feedstocks & Maritime Profiles
Each raw material is contracted on chemical purity, physical particle sizing, and mandatory IMO/IMSBC code stowage factors to prevent liquefaction or contamination.
| Feedstock | Grade & Purity Spec | Form / Carriage | IMSBC Code | Stowage Factor | Typical Parcel | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| API 13A Barite (4.20 & 4.10 SG)BaSO₄ | SG ≥ 4.20 (or ≥ 4.10 alternative grade); soluble alkaline earths ≤ 250 mg/kg; residue > 75 µm ≤ 3% | Lump ore in bulk to grinding plants; ground powder in 1 – 1.5 MT big bags or 25 kg / 100 lb bags | Group C | 15 – 25 cu.ft/MT (bulk lump, per stowage tables) (0.42 – 0.71 m³/t (bulk lump)) | 10,000 – 38,000 MT lump (Handysize) / 20 – 200 TEU ground | Spec →Ship → |
| API 13A Bentonite (Drilling Grade) | 600 rpm dial ≥ 30; YP/PV < 3; filtrate ≤ 15.0 mL; residue > 75 µm ≤ 4%; moisture ≤ 12% | Dried crushed lump or milled powder in 25 kg / 100 lb bags and 1 MT big bags; bulk to mills | Group C | ≈ 40 cu.ft/MT (bulk, per stowage tables) (≈ 1.13 m³/t (bulk)) | 10,000 – 30,000 MT lump (Handysize) / 20 – 200 TEU milled | Spec →Ship → |
| Hematite Weighting AgentFe₂O₃ | SG ≥ 5.05 (API 13A hematite section); sieve residues per API | Ground powder in 1 – 1.5 MT big bags | Group C | Per pack (big bags in containers) (Per pack (big bags in containers)) | 20 – 200 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| Sized Calcium Carbonate (Bridging & LCM)CaCO₃ | High-purity acid-soluble marble grades; D50 grinds 5, 25, 50, 150, 400, 600, 1200, 2500 µm | Ground powder and granules in 25 kg bags and 1 MT big bags | Group C | Per pack (bags / big bags in containers) (Per pack (bags / big bags in containers)) | 20 – 200 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| Xanthan Gum & Oilfield Guar | Drilling-grade xanthan per API 13A; guar and HPG/CMHPG on hydration rate and viscosity | Powder in 25 kg bags or drums, palletised | Group C | Per pack (bags on pallets in containers) (Per pack (bags on pallets in containers)) | 5 – 100 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| CMC & PAC (LV / HV) Fluid-Loss Polymers | Technical-grade CMC and polyanionic cellulose LV and HV meeting API 13A filtrate and viscosity tests | Powder in 25 kg bags, palletised in containers | Group C | Per pack (bags on pallets in containers) (Per pack (bags on pallets in containers)) | 5 – 100 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| Caustic Soda, Soda Ash & Lime (pH and Hardness Control)NaOH / Na₂CO₃ / Ca(OH)₂ | Caustic soda flake or pearl 99%; dense soda ash 99.2%; hydrated lime and quicklime per producer certificate | Bags of 25 kg and 1 MT big bags; caustic also 50% liquid | Group C | Per pack (bags / big bags in containers) (Per pack (bags / big bags in containers)) | 5 – 100 TEU; caustic liquid by parcel tanker | Spec →Ship → |
| Calcium Chloride (Completion Brines & Invert Emulsions)CaCl₂ | Anhydrous 94 – 97% pellets and flake; dihydrate 74 – 77%; liquid brine | Pellets or flake in 25 kg bags and 1 MT big bags; liquid in ISO tanks | Group C | Per pack (bags / big bags in containers) (Per pack (bags / big bags in containers)) | 10 – 200 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| API 10A Oilwell Cement (Class G & H, MSR / HSR) | Ground clinker with calcium sulphate only; ≥ 1,500 psi at 8 h; thickening 90 – 120 min; free water ≤ 1.4% | Bulk pneumatic or 1.5 – 2 MT big bags; sling bags | Group C | Per shipper's declaration (bulk cement) / per pack (big bags) (Per shipper's declaration (bulk cement) / per pack (big bags)) | 3,000 – 20,000 MT bulk / 20 – 200 TEU big bags | Spec →Ship → |
| API 19C Frac Sand (20/40, 40/70, 100 Mesh)SiO₂ | API 19C sizes 20/40, 30/50, 40/70, 70/140 (100 mesh); crush ≤ 8% at 40/70, ≤ 6% at 70/140 | Washed, dried, screened silica sand in bulk or 1.5 MT big bags | Group C | Per shipper's declaration (IMSBC sand schedule) (Per shipper's declaration (IMSBC sand schedule)) | 10,000 – 38,000 MT bulk (Handysize) / 20 – 200 TEU | Spec →Ship → |
| Monoethylene Glycol (Hydrate Inhibition)C₂H₆O₂ | Fibre-grade or industrial MEG on the producer's certificate; lean MEG per operator spec | Clear liquid in chemical parcel tankers, ISO tanks and drums | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Per parcel tanker / ISO tank (Per parcel tanker / ISO tank) | 1,000 – 10,000 MT parcel / 20 – 200 MT ISO tanks | Spec →Ship → |
| Low-Toxicity Base Oil for Oil-Based Mud | Low-aromatic mineral oil (aromatics < 1% target) with flash point above 60°C or the operator's flowline margin | Liquid in MR / chemical tankers, ISO tanks and IBCs | IMO Liquid / Chemical | Per tanker parcel (Per tanker parcel) | 3,000 – 30,000 MT tanker / 20 – 200 MT ISO tanks | Spec →Ship → |
API 13A Barite (4.20 & 4.10 SG)
The weighting agent of water- and oil-based muds. Indian, Moroccan and Mexican lump ore feeds grinding plants on the US Gulf and at regional bases; ground API grade goes to mud plants in big bags. Bought on SG, soluble alkaline earths, 75 µm and 6 µm sieve fractions and the API monogram or equivalent certificate.
API 13A Bentonite (Drilling Grade)
Sodium bentonite viscosifier and filtration-control clay for spud and water-based muds from Wyoming, Indian Kutch, Greek Milos and Turkish deposits; API 13A Section 9 defines the drilling grade and Section 10 the non-treated grade. Bought on rheology, filtrate, grit and moisture.
Hematite Weighting Agent
High-density weighting agent for high-pressure wells where barite alone would overload the solids fraction. Iron ore fines (linked) carry the ore page; API hematite is a ground, sized product quoted by enquiry on the producer's certificate.
Sized Calcium Carbonate (Bridging & LCM)
Acid-soluble bridging and weighting solid for drill-in, workover and completion fluids and lost-circulation pills, ground in Oman, Egypt and Türkiye near the supply bases. Bought on CaCO₃ content, acid solubility and the D50 grind.
Xanthan Gum & Oilfield Guar
Xanthan gives high low-shear viscosity for cuttings suspension; guar and its HPG and CMHPG derivatives thicken fracturing fluids. India produces about 80% of world guar and around 90% of its guar gum exports go to oil and shale gas extraction. Xanthan has no dedicated page yet and is quoted by enquiry.
CMC & PAC (LV / HV) Fluid-Loss Polymers
PAC LV controls fluid loss with little viscosity in fresh and saline water; PAC HV is both a viscosifier and a filtrate reducer. Bought on degree of substitution, filtrate and dial readings on the API 13A tests.
Caustic Soda, Soda Ash & Lime (pH and Hardness Control)
Caustic soda raises pH, soda ash removes calcium hardness from make-up water and lime supplies alkalinity in lime and oil-based muds. Soda ash and quicklime carry their own pages under alkali chemicals and construction minerals.
Calcium Chloride (Completion Brines & Invert Emulsions)
Base of clear completion brines and the internal phase of invert-emulsion muds, reducing clay swelling and dispersion in the near-wellbore. Bought on assay, insolubles, magnesium and alkalinity; kept dry in transit.
API 10A Oilwell Cement (Class G & H, MSR / HSR)
Class G and H basic well cements in moderate and high sulphate-resistant grades for casing and liner jobs. Oman Cement Company produces Class A and G for the Gulf, Pakistan and India, and Egyptian mills ship bulk, 50 kg and jumbo bags for the Red Sea. Hygroscopic: loaded in dry weather only.
API 19C Frac Sand (20/40, 40/70, 100 Mesh)
Northern White and regional silica proppant tested to API 19C for sphericity, roundness, acid solubility, turbidity and crush at 6,000 – 10,000 psi closure. US industrial sand sold or used was about 120 million tons in 2025, 81% of it frac and well-packing sand, with about 8 million tons exported.
Monoethylene Glycol (Hydrate Inhibition)
Injected at the wellhead to lower the hydrate formation temperature in gas flowlines and recovered through MEG regeneration units that strip water, hydrocarbons and salts. DEG (linked under plasticisers and glycols) serves gas dehydration. Non-hazardous for transport; MARPOL Annex II.
Low-Toxicity Base Oil for Oil-Based Mud
Continuous phase of invert-emulsion muds: hydrotreated low-aromatic mineral oils and Group II cuts (linked). Regulators commonly require a flash point above 60°C, and operators add 10°C over the active-system flowline temperature. Refinery named on the certificate; SGS or Intertek at load; no tank-receipt or advance-fee structures.
Ocean Chartering & Laycan Programme
Plant downtime and demurrage at loading/discharge terminals can rapidly exceed commodity trading margins. LaycanDesk synchronizes vessel size matching, Notice of Readiness (NOR) tenders, and continuous laytime tracking.
COA & Maritime Execution Rules
Barite and Bentonite Lump: Heavy, Dry Group C Parcels
Barite stows at 15 – 25 cu ft/MT, so a Handysize loads by weight with holds part-filled and trimmed to protect tank tops; bentonite and kaolin-type clays cake if wetted. Loading stops in rain and holds are dry and swept for the grinding plant's contamination limits.
Supply-Base Discharge Rates and Bagging
Regional bases at Duqm, Sohar, Fujairah, Onne, Takoradi and Labuan discharge lump minerals by grab into hoppers and bagging lines; Takoradi's oil and gas terminal offers a 550 m quay at 10 m draft. Laytime is written against the base's actual gear.
Oilwell Cement: Hygroscopic Cargo
Class G and H cement is loaded in dry weather only, pneumatically or in big bags, and carried under the IMSBC cement schedule (Group C) with sealed hatches; big-bag lots ride in containers to the cementing contractor's silo yard.
Base Oil and Glycol Tanker Parcels
OBM base oil moves under MARPOL Annex I on MR or chemical tankers; MEG under Annex II on chemical parcel tankers with clean previous-cargo history. Both legs are fixed through LaycanDesk with the certificate of quality and load-port inspection in the fixture recap.
- • Kandla & Mundra (India - barite lump, bentonite, guar)
- • Casablanca & Safi (Morocco - barite lump)
- • Altamira & Tampico (Mexico - barite)
- • Houston, New Orleans & Corpus Christi (US Gulf - ground barite, frac sand, base oil, CaCl₂)
- • Salalah & Sohar (Oman - Class G cement, calcium carbonate, lime)
- • Alexandria & Ain Sokhna (Egypt - calcium carbonate, cement)
- • Milos & Izmir (Greece & Türkiye - bentonite)
- • Oman & Fujairah (Duqm, Sohar, Fujairah supply bases)
- • Saudi Red Sea (Yanbu, Jeddah)
- • US Gulf (Houston, Galveston, New Orleans, Corpus Christi)
- • West Africa (Onne, Takoradi, Tema, Luanda, Pointe-Noire, Malabo)
- • Southeast Asia (Labuan, Kemaman, Batam, Vung Tau)
- • East Africa & Mozambique Channel (Pemba, Mombasa)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBIL supply lump barite to grinding plants or ground API barite to mud plants?
Both. Lump ore from India, Morocco and Mexico is brokered in Handysize parcels to US Gulf and regional grinding plants; ground API 13A barite in big bags is brokered in container strings to mud plants and supply bases, each against the SG, soluble alkaline earth and sieve certificate.
Which specifications govern the products?
API Spec 13A for barite, bentonite, hematite, xanthan, CMC and PAC; API Spec 10A for Class G and H cements; API 19C (ISO 13503-2) for proppant. Every lot is certified by the producer and inspected at load by SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas.
Which supply-base geographies does the desk serve?
Oman (Duqm, Sohar), Fujairah, the Saudi Red Sea (Yanbu, Jeddah), the US Gulf, West Africa (Onne, Takoradi, Luanda, Pointe-Noire) and Southeast Asia (Labuan, Kemaman, Batam), with East Africa on request.
How are base oil and glycol enquiries screened?
The refinery or producer is named on the certificate of quality, inspection is at load, the buyer or charterer is named, and no transaction is built on tank-storage receipts, dip tests or advance fees. Price references are by publication (Argus, Platts, ICIS) at the time of the enquiry.
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