1. n. []
A class of water-based drilling fluid that utilizes dissolved Ca+2 as a component. Examples are lime mud, gyp mud, and calcium chloride [CaCl2] mud. The latter is rarely used but is based on solutions of CaCl2 that, in high concentration, can impart density up to 11.6 lbm/galUS [1.39 g/cm3] and has been touted as providing shale inhibition.
See related terms: anhydrite, calcium contamination, calcium hydroxide, calcium sulfate, clay-water interaction, flocculant, gypsum, hardness ion, inhibit, inhibitive mud
