Polymer powder for drilling—typically a Partially Hydrolyzed Polyacrylamide (PHPA) or Copolymer High Polymer (CHP)—is a water-soluble chemical additive used to mix high-performance, clear drilling fluids or enhance water-based muds

Key Functions

• Borehole Stabilization: Coats and encapsulates shale and clay formations to prevent swelling, sloughing, and erosion.
• Viscosifier & Cuttings Transport: Thickens water to efficiently lift rock cuttings to the surface and suspend them when circulation stops.
• Lubrication & Friction Reduction: Forms a protective film on the drill pipe, bit, and borehole walls to lower torque, drag, and fluid loss.

Common Applications

• Water well drilling
• Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and tunneling
• Foundation piling and civil engineering
• Mineral exploration and mining

Mixing and Handling

• Dosage: Typically added at 0.2 to 1.0 kg per cubic meter of water, depending on soil or rock conditions.
• Golden Rule: Always add the powder slowly into the water (via a jet mixer or the vortex of a high-speed stirrer), never water into a pile of powder, to avoid forming hard “fish eyes” or unblended lumps.
• Advantage over Bentonite: It requires less storage space (supplied in 25 kg bags), mixes faster, and is biodegradable.