1. n. [Drilling Fluids]

A mud additive for lowering torque (rotary friction) and drag (axial friction) in the wellbore and to lubricate bit bearings if not sealed. Lubricants may be solids, such as plastic beads, glass beads, nut hulls and graphite, or liquids, such as oils, synthetic fluids, glycols, modified vegetable oils, fatty-acid soaps and surfactants.

See related terms: fatty-acid soap,  glycol,  lubricity,  mud,  resin