How Georgia Underground Superstore and DrilRite Helped Solve a Sticky Clay Situation on an HDD Project in Virginia

Written By Anthony Burasco

Drilling through clay is one of the most common—and most frustrating—challenges in horizontal directional drilling. Swelling, sticky, high-reactivity clay can shut down a bore, clog up equipment, and cost contractors valuable time and money. That’s exactly what happened to a Virginia-based HDD crew before Georgia Underground Superstore and DrilRite Chem LLC stepped in to help.

Diagnosing the Problem: Sticky Clay Stalls the Job

The crew was days into a bore with little progress to show. The ground was thick with sand, and sticky reactive clay that clung to everything—tools, pipe, reamers—and the additives they were using weren’t cutting it. That’s when Mike Bearden, HDD specialist with Georgia Underground Superstore, was called in to assess the situation.

Mike’s years of experience in HDD tooling and drilling fluids gave him the insight needed to spot the real issue: it wasn’t just thick clay—it was untreated clay with a high swelling potential and poor suspension management. This jobsite didn’t need better tooling. It needed better chemistry.

The Solution: A Targeted Drilling Fluids Plan

After a quick evaluation, Mike reached out to DrilRite Chem LLC, a leader in high-performance drilling fluid additives for HDD. DrilRite dispatched a field support team to work side-by-side with the crew, delivering a custom fluid plan using:

  • Detrite – A premium drilling detergent designed to minimize bit balling, mud rings and increased torque caused by sticking clay in directional drilling.

  • ClayRite – A concentrated clay inhibitor and surfactant that blocks swelling and prevents rehydration.

  • ZanRite-L – A high-efficiency viscosifier that enhances suspension, ideal for longer bores and difficult ground.

These additives were mixed on site with proper ratios and drilling best practices. The team also provided classroom, and on-the-job training to ensure the crew understood how to maintain their fluid properties throughout the remainder of the bore.

The Result: Problem Solved in Just a Few Hours

With the right drilling mud mix in place, the difference was immediate. Cuttings flowed cleanly, tooling stayed clean, and the bore was completed in under four hours. What had stalled for days was resolved in a single afternoon thanks to:

Why It Matters

This project showcases the importance of partnering with knowledgeable suppliers and using the right drilling fluids for the ground conditions. When it comes to HDD, clay isn’t just “dirt”—it’s a geological obstacle that requires precision treatment. And in today’s market, downtime is too expensive to let the wrong fluid slow you down.

If your crew is drilling in clay—or facing any kind of HDD fluid challenge—reach out to the experts at Georgia Underground Superstore or DrilRite Chem. Their teams bring real jobsite experience and real solutions.

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Anthony Burasco
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