Drilling Specialties’ Greenbase™ Flowzan^® Biopolymer is a high-purity xanthan gum biopolymer, suspended in a glycol ether. This type of polymer is unique when compared to most other polymers in oilfield drilling and completion applications. Xanthan gums are well known for their ability to provide extremely low-solids fluids with excellent carrying and suspending characteristics. This is due to their “shear thinning” properties. Fluids thickened with the Flowzan^® Biopolymer have a tendency to thin at higher velocities and thicken at lower velocities. This translates into the following:

• Optimized bit hydraulics resulting in higher penetration rates
• Reduced circulating pressure losses
• Improved hole cleaning with lower bentonite concentrations
• Minimal drilled solids settling under static conditions

Packaging

Greenbase™ Flowzan® Biopolymer is packaged in disposable pails, containing a net weight of 45 lb of product (18 lb of Flowzan® Biopolymer). Other packaging options are available.

Greenbase™ Flowzan^® Biopolymer is a versatile product and can be used in most types of water-based fluids for rheology modification, hole cleaning and solids suspension. It provides excellent friction reduction for coiled tubing operations. It is useful over a wide pH range. Xanthan gum was the first truly stable thickener for hydrochloric acid used in the oilfield. The Greenbase™ Flowzan® Biopolymer suspension is uniquely stable, easily handled and useful in both oilfield and non-oilfield applications.

Suspension Properties

Greenbase™ Flowzan^® Biopolymer will not experience the separation that is evident in other suspension products. It is not subject to particle settling or fluid separation under normal storage or transport conditions. Starting with an environmentally friendly fluid and utilizing our unique suspension technology, we eliminate settling of the xanthan gum particles while the product remains fully pourable. The long-term stability of the suspension provides for consistent, reliable product properties at your field locations any place in the world.

Packaging the Flowzan^® Biopolymer as a liquid suspension allows for accurate metering, and provides complete dispersion of the particles in your treating fluids before hydration begins. This quality eliminates problems of polymer lumping and incomplete viscosity development, even when facing adverse field mixing conditions.

Advantages

• Easy to handle and mixes well in low-shear environments
• Extremely stable suspension provides reliable properties
• Excellent viscosifier – requires less material than other types of rheology modifiers
• Stable rheology control
• Produces shear thinning fluids for optimum penetration rates
• Performs well in fresh water, seawater, brine and saturated salt environments
• Rapid dispersion without “fisheyes”
• Minimizes formation damage
• Excellent friction reduction
• Stable thickener for 15% HCl at temperatures below 150° F

Technical Information

Activity	3.6 lb/gal
Flash Point	220°F (104°C)
Pour Point	-35° F
Density	9.2 lb/gal
Color	Tan

Applications

Performance

The performance characteristics of the xanthan gums are well established in the oilfield. Typical fluid properties imparted by Greenbase™ Flowzan® Biopolymer are shown in Table 1. In most brines, the xanthan gum produces stable viscosities at temperatures as high as 275°F. In saturated salt water, that thermal stability has been shown to extend beyond 300°F. The addition of an oxygen scavenger may be useful in stabilizing the rheology at high temperatures.

The suspended Flowzan^® Biopolymer has been demonstrated to have a minimal effect on the permeability of Berea sandstone cores. For wellbore cleanup, however, the xanthan gum is acid soluble and is degradable by strong oxidizing agents.

Environmental

Using EPA Method 1664, for a 2 lb/bbl concentration in seawater, Greenbase™ Flowzan® Biopolymer showed less than 5 ppm of total extractables. There was no evidence of sheening.

Toxicity test results for Greenbase™ Flowzan® Biopolymer are shown in Table 2.