1. n. [Drilling Fluids]
A drilling fluid (mud) in which water or saltwater is the major liquid phase as well as the wetting (external) phase. General categories of water-base muds are fresh water, seawater, salt water, lime, potassium and silicate. Subcategorizes of these abound.
Synonyms: water mud
See: lime mud, low-solids mud, low-solids, nondispersed mud, potassium mud, saltwater mud, seawater mud, spotting fluid