Oil & Gas Exploration and Production Chemicals – Hydrochloric Acid

Since 1985, Continental Chemical USA has been one of the nation’s leading and most trusted chemical wholesale suppliers of hydrochloric acid (HCl). As the result of its extensive domestic and off-shore sourcing capabilities, CCUSA offers unparalleled customer service and extremely competitive short-term and long-term supply commitments to its global customer base in all concentrations up to 38%. Hydrochloric acid is available in concentrations ranging from 7 – 23° Baume. Multiple packaging options are available to accommodate virtually any application in the oil and gas, steel, plastic, food, construction, leather processing and cleaning product manufacturing industries.

Continental Chemical is well equipped and well positioned to service large scale hydrochloric acid supply agreements in the Oil and Gas Industry from stock (we’re currently shipping 10-12 tanker loads PER DAY to one company) and smaller requirements within the food or leather processing industries.

Concentrated hydrochloric acid is highly corrosive and without proper packaging and handling, hydrochloric acid can be dangerous to human skin, our eyes, respiratory organs and intestines. CCUSA’s wealth of experience and depth of understanding takes the worry out of the transportation of this commodity. We know it; we understand it; we’ll take care of it for you!

If you are unhappy with your current supplier of hydrochloric acid and you’re willing to consider a reliable alternative source of supply, you may wish to contact CCUSA – “the hydrochloric acid company” – known worldwide for quality, service and price. We hope to hear from you soon.

Chemical Description

Hydrochloric acid is a solution comprised of hydrogen chloride and water. It is clear to slightly cloudy and ranges in appearance from colorless to light yellow. It naturally occurs in gastric acid. In water, hydrogen chloride gas almost completely dissociates creating a solution that contains nearly zero HCl, but rather H3O+ and Cl- ions in water. This occurs via the following chemical reaction:

HCl + H2O → H3O+ + Cl−




Common Industrial Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

Oil Well Acidizing – Hydrochloric acid is used in large quantities as a bore-hole drilling agent. This fracture stimulation fluid reduces the pH of drilling fluid systems and helps dissolve rock during drilling for the Oil and Gas Industry.

Metal Finishing – Hydrochloric acid is used extensively in the Iron and Steel Industry to remove iron oxide (also known as rust or scale) from basic steel prior to additional steel manufacturing process.

Food Processing – Hydrochloric acid is utilized in a variety food processing applications. Hydrolysis, purification and even neutralization are some of the areas hydrochloric acid is applied.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment – Hydrochloric acid can be used in the clarification and neutralization of the waste streams.

Hydrochloric acid is used in the production and manufacturing of many household cleaning solutions and it’s commonly used in the Leather Processing Industry. HCl is also used to in the production of many organic and inorganic compounds such as vinyl chloride dichloroethane, activated carbon, ascorbic acid, polycarbonate and many pharmaceutical products.

Hydrochloric acid with concentrations of 20° Baume (~ 31%) or 22° Baume (~ 35%) are most commonly used for applications in the Oil & Gas Industry and hydraulic gas fracturing (fracking) industry. Concentrations of ~ 18% are commonly used in the Iron & Steel Industry to de-scale (to pickle) semi-finished steel.

Hydrochloric Acid in the Oil and Gas Industry

Chemical Formula

  • HCl

CAS No.

  • 7647-01-0

Minimum Order Quantity

20 ton (40,000 pound) minimum order.
Hydrochloric acid is available for shipment in 275 gallon totes as well as bulk trucks and rail cars.

Note: CCUSA is a wholesale industrial and commercial bulk chemical supplier.

Safety Considerations

corrosive0-3-1-acid

Great care must be taken when handling concentrated solutions of hydrochloric acid. Concentrated solutions are not only corrosive to human tissue, but so are the vapors and mists that the solution can release to the atmosphere. Both the mists and solutions can damage respiratory organs, skin, intestines, and eyes. When mixed with oxidizing agents such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4) or sodium hypochlorite (bleach, NaClO), highly toxic chlorine gas is produced. Chemical resistant clothing, rubber or PVC gloves and protective eye wear should always be worn when handling solutions of hydrochloric acid.

Common Names / Also Known As

  • HCl
  • Muriatic Acid
  • Hydrogen Chloride

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