Chemical Supplier - Oil & Gas Production
Con-Stable Shale
Sodium Sulfonated Asphalt

Sulfonated asphalt, a drilling mud additive used for shale stabilization and shale conditioning in the Oil & Gas Industry is now available in the USA for the very first time.

Con-Stable Shale, Continental Chemical USA’s sulphonated asphalt (also spelled sulfonated asphalt) is one of the most popular compounds manufactured from sodium asphalt sulphonate for use as a Shale Stabilizer and Shale Conditioner in the Oil & Gas Industry.

In addition to shale stabilization, this versatile “mud” conditioner that was engineered to work well with all water-based and oil-based mud systems, also affords the following important benefits to well operators:

• It controls HTHP (high temperature, high pressure) fluid loss
• It’s not biodegradable
• It’s highly temperature stable
• It stabilizes the hole formation
• It contributes to the stability of the drilling fluids
• It’s 80-90% soluble in water. The insoluble portion remains in the drilling mud and “plasters” the formation surface providing improved filter cake properties.
• It improves lubricity and therefore reduces torque and drag
• It contributes to the stability of the drilling fluids
• It aids in the emulsification of oil
• It improves the performance of the drilling mud by controlling its chemical and physical properties
• It inhibits the disintegration and dispersion of solid drilled cuttings
• It controls high temperature water loss which prevents further formation/shale hydration and sloughing.
• It is highly effective in dispersed and non-dispersed polymer, PHPA and other systems.
• It controls viscosity
• It helps seal micro fractures
• It prevents drill bit and down hole assembly bailing
• It inhibits corrosion
• It enhances well productivity

Con-Stable Shale, a free flowing dark gray powder, is packaged in 50 pound mulit-wall paper bags stretch-wrapped on pallets and encased in wooden Jungle Boxes before stowage in ocean going containers. For your convenience and economy, customized packaging and labeling can be arranged upon request.

With proper agitation Con-Stable Shale, can easily be added directly to the Mud System through the Mixing Hopper at 2-3 ppb. This dosage should be increase to 4-6 ppb while drilling the shale section and cementing the casing.

Continental offers both bulk shipments of Con-Stable Shale from the manufacturer located in India and relatively small quantities of Con-Stable Shale…as little as 1 pallet (approximately 2,000 pounds) that we can ship from stock in the USA as needed.

When compared with the pricing of domestically produced sulphonated asphalt, the pricing of Con-Stable Shale is VERY competitive. In fact, we think you’ll be pretty surprised by how much you’ll save when buying Con-Stable Shale, the global operators’ product of choice for shale stabilization.

Product Overview

Con-Stable Shale is a shale inhibitor additive, stabilizer and conditioner for the hole formation and the drilling mud. It also controls HTHP fluid loss in water-based and oil-based muds.

Con-Stable Shale is a multi-component shale additive where sodium asphalt sulphonate is the main component. The product is highly temperature stable and non-biodegradable.

Recommended Application

• Con-Stable Shale is a shale inhibitor blend based on sodium sulfonated asphalt as the major component and other constituents that control and stabilize the hole formation and mud fluid.
• Con-Stable Shale, a highly effective shale inhibitor in water-based and oil-based muds should be added to the drilling mud prior to crossing the shale zone where it stabilizes the hole formation and the mud, thus making it highly efficient while drilling the shale section.
• Con-Stable Shale, a dark gray powder, is approximately 80-90% soluble in water. This property gives Con-Stable Shale emulsifying characteristics and lubricating effects that reduce torque and drag.
• Con-Stable Shale improves the drilling mud performance by controlling its chemical and physical properties. Since the major portion of Con-Stable Shale is water soluble, it will be transported by the filtrate to protect unstable shale and prevent the disintegration of cuttings. The insoluble portion of Con-Stable Shale remains in the drilling mud and plasters the formation surface providing improved filter cake properties. It also controls high temperature water loss which stops further formation/shale hydration and sloughing.
• Con-Stable Shale is compatible with all mud products in water-based and oil-based mud. The product is highly effective in dispersed and non dispersed polymer, PHPA and other systems.
• Con-Stable Shale is an efficient shale inhibitor and mud conditioner that controls viscosity and high temperature water loss. Once the mud system is treated/inhibited with Con-Stable Shale, it prevents further hydration of shale/bentonite, thus minimizing or eliminating shale sloughing and respective mud/drilling problems.
• Con-Stable Shale, a free flowing blend of sulfonated asphalt should be added through the hopper to the mud system prior to crossing the shale zone at 2-3 ppb. This dosage should be increased to 4-6 ppb while drilling the shale section and cementing the casing.

Safety & Environmental

• Refer to MSDS for latest and most up-to-date safety, environmental information.
• Handle as an industrial chemical, wearing protective equipment and observing the precautions as described on the MSDS.
• Bioassay information is available upon request.

Minimum Order Quantity

• 40,000 pound minimum order.
  Note: CCUSA is a wholesale industrial and commercial bulk chemical supplier.

Shipping, Handling & Storage

• Refer to MSDS for latest and most up-to-date shipping, handling, and storage information.
• Con-Stable Shale is packaged in 50 pound multi-wall paper bags.

Typical Properties