API RP 13K-2011 PDF

Scope: Barite is used to increase the density of oil well drilling fluids. It is a mined product that can contain significant quantities of minerals other than barium sulfate@ which is its main component. A list of some minerals commonly associated with barite ores is given in Table 1 with the chemical formulas@ mineralogical names@ and the densities of the mineral grains. The performance of barite in a drilling fluid is related in part to the percentage and type of non-barite minerals distributed in the barite ore. Some of these minerals have little or no effect on drilling fluid properties@ but others can degrade these properties and even be harmful to rig personnel. It is the objective of this publication to provide a comprehensive@ detailed description of the chemical analytical procedures for quantitatively determining the mineral and chemical constituents of barite. These procedures are quite elaborate and will normally be carried out in a well-equipped laboratory

API RP 13K-2011Recommended Practice for Chemical Analysis of Barite (Third Edition)