Oil Drilling

HEC (Hydroxyethyl Cellulose) is widely used in oil drilling, particularly in well completion, workover, stimulation fluids (fracturing), and borehole cementing.

Well Completion and Workover: HEC acts as a thickener, enhancing the viscosity of completion and workover fluids, improving sand-carrying capacity, reducing fluid loss, and stabilizing wellbore integrity, thus increasing operational efficiency.

Stimulation Fluids (Fracturing): In hydraulic fracturing, HEC is used to formulate fracturing fluids with high viscosity, enabling effective transport of proppants (such as quartz sand or ceramic beads) into fractures, ensuring sustained conductivity and enhancing oil and gas production.

Borehole Cementing: HEC serves as a rheology modifier in drilling fluids, helping control mud viscosity and fluid loss, reducing wellbore instability risks, and improving cementing quality while maintaining stability under high-temperature and high-salinity conditions.

Due to its excellent water solubility, chemical stability, and low environmental impact, HEC is an essential additive in modern oil drilling operations.