It is investigated that core products in mud system of the foreign-invested mud companies come from abroad. It is partly because they have their own research & development and production base abroad, and further, domestic drilling fluid additives cannot conform to high standards. Low-end products with low technological content and cheap price are purchased locally, such as barite, bentonite, sodium chloride, xanthan gum, etc. This not only guarantees need of drilling engineering, but also achieves profit maximization of drilling fluid additives.



For core products in mud system, drilling fluid companies affiliated with CNPC, Sinopec and CNOOC all have their own additives production base or cooperators, as well as independent R & D team for new materials and products. They purchase conventional products, like sodium chloride and origin-dependent products, like barite and bentonite from outside.



Currently, Chinese drilling fluid additives market is still in disorder and companies are relatively small without competitiveness. Products quality varies greatly and is difficult to distinguish. Additionally, Chinese market is short of high-end drilling fluid additives with high standards and requirements.