Better Crews Start with Better Mud: Why Drilling Fluid Training is the First Step in HDD Success
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) has advanced rapidly over the past few decades. Project specs are deeper, longer, and more demanding. Drill rigs and tooling have evolved, and expectations on job performance continue to rise. Yet even as technology moves forward, one thing stays the same: every new HDD crew member starts by learning how to mix mud.
This first task is more than a rite of passage. It’s the foundation of good drilling—and how well it’s taught can impact the entire project.
The First Lesson on Any Crew: How to Mix Drilling Fluid
When a new hire steps onto an HDD jobsite, they’re typically not handed the controls to the drill. More often than not, their first responsibility is mixing drilling fluid. It’s where most people begin, and for good reason.
Drilling fluid affects everything—borehole stability, tooling performance, pullbacks, and even environmental compliance. And while experienced drillers understand what makes a good mix, many new hands are left to learn it through trial and error. That can lead to costly delays, stuck pipe, or project failure.
That’s why DrilRite Chem created the Intro to Fluid Additives online course: a structured, field-tested training designed specifically for those who are new to HDD.
A Practical, Field-Focused HDD Training Program
The Intro to Fluid Additives course is available 24/7 online and can be completed on a phone, tablet, or computer. It’s built to be fast, clear, and useful on real jobsites—not just in a classroom.
The course covers:
The basics of bentonite-based drilling fluids
How to use additives like SureFlow, SureFlow Clay, DetRite, ClayRite PolyRite, and ZanRite-L
Common drilling fluid issues and how to prevent them
Mixing tips for different soil types and job conditions
All content is backed by certified drilling fluid engineers, so contractors can trust the information is accurate and field-proven.
Fast-Track New Entrants into the HDD Field
One of the biggest challenges facing contractors today is training. Experienced drillers are hard to find, and crews need new hires to start contributing quickly. The DrilRite training system helps contractors fast-track the learning curve and get new employees productive on Day One.
By starting with the fundamentals—mixing and managing mud—contractors can give new hires a clear role and a chance to build confidence early. From there, they can progress to more advanced tasks like learning to locate and operate the drill.
This kind of structured progression not only improves jobsite efficiency—it helps build long-term crew depth.
Recognition and Resources Matter
When someone completes the Intro to Fluid Additives course, DrilRite Chem sends them a printed certificate of achievement, along with a field-ready handbook and sticker pack. It’s a small gesture that carries weight—especially for new hands who are just starting out.
The handbook includes useful reference charts, product usage guidelines, and mixing tips that can be kept in a truck or trailer for easy access on the job. It reinforces good habits and gives your crew a trusted resource they can use every day.
Build HDD Crews That Train Themselves
Every good driller remembers who taught them—and every smart contractor looks for ways to build crews that can train the next person behind them. That’s what the DrilRite system is designed to support: a process where knowledge is passed down clearly, consistently, and with real-world application.
When your team understands how to mix and manage fluid, they’ll not only avoid problems—they’ll be ready to take on more. That’s how you move someone from the mix tank to the drill controls, and from trainee to trainer.
DrilRite Chem is here to help you build that crew—starting with the one thing every driller needs to know.
