DrilRite 500 Series: Liquid Additives dosed for 500 Gallon HDD Mixing Systems

DrilRite Chemical has introduced the new 500 Series, a line of liquid drilling fluid additives packaged in a compact format designed to treat 500 gallons of water. The goal is straightforward. Deliver the same DrilRite performance contractors already rely on, but in a container size that aligns with the way many horizontal directional drilling crews mix mud in the field.

On smaller rigs and utility installations, drilling fluid is often mixed in relatively small tanks. Crews are building fluid quickly, sometimes multiple times throughout the day. Under those conditions, dosing additives by estimating partial containers or working through treatment calculations can introduce unnecessary inconsistency. The 500 Series is designed to remove that step. Each container corresponds directly to a 500 gallon mix, giving crews a clear and repeatable dosing option.

From a jobsite perspective, the format is simple. Add the product to the tank, mix it, and keep drilling.

Why the 500 Series Exists

DrilRite has built its reputation around highly concentrated liquid drilling fluid additives. Those products remain the backbone of our liquid product lineup and are widely used when contractors are building more advanced drilling fluid systems.

One of the realities of working with concentrated additives, however, is that treatment rates vary significantly between products. Some additives may treat roughly 1,000 gallons of drilling fluid per gallon of product. Others are far more concentrated and can treat up to 5,000 gallons per gallon.

That range works well when contractors are measuring doses directly from one gallon containers. It becomes more complicated when the goal is to create a uniform container size designed to treat a consistent volume of water.

In order to make every container in the 500 Series treat 500 gallons the concentration is adjusted so the treatment rate aligns with the standardized container size.

The function of the additives within the drilling fluid remains the same. The adjustment simply makes the dosing consistent across the series.

For crews mixing mud in the field, the benefit is obvious. Every product follows the same rule. One container treats 500 gallons.

Four Additives That Cover Common HDD Fluid Adjustments

The initial release of the DrilRite 500 Series focuses on four additives that represent common adjustments made in HDD drilling fluid systems.

CR500: a clay inhibitor designed to control swelling and help manage reactive clay formations. Clay control is a routine concern in many drilling regions, and an effective inhibitor can prevent swelling clays from tightening the bore or creating drag on the tooling.

DR500: a low foaming detergent product is also included in the series. Detergents are commonly used to reduce bit balling, improve cleaning along the drill string, and help keep sticky formations from building up on tooling.

PR500: a liquid polymer additive used to support hole stability and improve the carrying capacity of the drilling fluid. Liquid polymers are often introduced when contractors want to strengthen the fluid system and improve cuttings transport.

ZR500: a liquid xanthan based additive. Xanthan is widely used in horizontal directional drilling fluids because it quickly builds viscosity and improves suspension properties, helping the fluid carry cuttings out of the bore.

Taken together, those four additives cover many of the routine adjustments contractors make while managing drilling fluid performance during a bore.

A Smaller Format That Fits Everyday Drilling

The horizontal directional drilling market includes a wide range of equipment sizes and project types. Large maxi rigs drilling thousands of feet require highly engineered drilling fluid programs. At the same time, a significant portion of HDD work consists of smaller utility installations performed with compact rigs and modest mixing systems.

In those situations, contractors often want a straightforward fluid program that is quick to build and easy for the crew to repeat throughout the day.

The DrilRite 500 Series was developed with those conditions in mind. The uniform container size simplifies dosing and reduces the chance of inconsistent treatment rates when additives are introduced into the system.

It also makes training new crew members easier. When someone is learning to manage the mixing tank, the instructions are clear. One container treats one tank.

Complementing DrilRite’s Concentrated Liquid Additives

The 500 Series is not intended to replace DrilRite’s 100% concentrated liquid additives. Contractors who want the highest possible concentration of product at the best possible value continue to rely on our 100% concentrated liquid line.

Instead, the 500 Series provides another option for contractors who prefer a smaller container and a clearly defined dosing format.