Product Bulletin

SAFE-CARBE SAFE-CARB ground marble is a high-purity, acid-soluble, calcium car-

bonate used as a bridging and weighting agent in drilling, drill-in and
workover/completion fluids. It is preferred over limestone because it
is generally more pure with a higher hardness. High purity provides
better acid solubility; high hardness provides a greater resistance to
particle size degradation. SAFE-CARB is available in three standard
grind sizes: Fine (F), Medium (M) and Coarse (C).

Physical appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . White powder

TYPICAL PHYSICAL Specific gravity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 – 2.8
PROPERTIES Solubility @ 212°F (100°C) . . . . . . . . Minimal (0.0035 g/100 mL water)
Solubility in 15% HCl
@ 76°F (24.2°C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . >98%

Grind Size Fine Medium Coarse

Finer than 40 mesh — — >99%
Finer than 200 mesh — 70 – 80% <20%
Finer than 325 mesh >99% — —
Median (microns) 6–9 35 – 45 100 – 125
Other sizes of ground marble are available upon request.

SAFE-CARB is an acid-soluble calcium The amount of SAFE-CARB required

APPLICATIONS carbonate bridging and weighting to increase the mud density can
agent for controlling fluid loss and be calculated with the following
density. It can be used in fluids rang- formulas:
ing from conventional drilling fluids
980 (w2 – w1)
to drill-in fluids, like FLO-PRO,T to SAFE-CARB, lb/bbl =
23.3 – w2
workover and completion fluids. As a
bridging agent and fluid-loss additive, Where:
normal concentrations are in the 10 w1 = Initial mud weight in lb/gal
to 50 lb/bbl (29 to 143 kg/m3) range. w2 = Desired mud weight in lb/gal
SAFE-CARB F (Fine) is used as the stan- 2800 (w2 – w1)
dard weighting material. SAFE-CARB M SAFE-CARB, kg/m3 =
2.8 - w2
(Medium) and SAFE-CARB C (Coarse)
Where:
are used for bridging and seepage
w1 = Initial mud weight in
control or can be used as a weight
specific gravity
material with a larger particle size.
w2 = Desired mud weight in
specific gravity
 SAFE-CARB M and SAFE-CARB C calcium
APPLICATIONS carbonate are generally used in fluid-
(CONTINUED) loss-control situations requiring a
larger particle size than SAFE-CARB F.
They are often used in lost circula-
tion and fluid loss pills, with con-
centrations from 30 to 50 lb/bbl (86
to 143 kg/m3), to bridge highly per-
meable or fractured zones.
SAFE-CARB can also be added on a
periodic basis for seepage control
to limit losses (lost circulation and
• Acid-soluble, high-purity product
ADVANTAGES which minimizes formation damage.
• Unique particle sizes; available in
Fine (F), Medium (M) and Coarse
(C) grades, allowing the most
appropriate particle size to be used.
• High-hardness ground marble
resists particle-size degradation.
Bioassay information is available
TOXICITY upon request.
AND HANDLING Handle as an industrial chemical,
wearing protective equipment and
SAFE-CARB F, M and C are packaged
PACKAGING in 50-lb (22.7-kg), 25- and 50-kg
AND STORAGE (55- and 110-lb), multi-wall, paper
sacks. Store in a dry location.
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-I L.L.C. makes no guar-
antees or warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use of
this data. All product warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms
of Sale.
No claim of personal safety is intended nor implied by the use of the name SAFE in this
product. Personnel handling this material should read and follow all safety and handling
procedures set forth on the Material Safety Data Sheet.
©1999 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved.
™ SAFE-CARB and M-I-X are trademarks of M-I L.L.C.
® FLO-PRO is a registered trademark of M-I L.L.C.
MIC-11910 1M 4/99 Litho in U.S.A.
leak-off) to high-permeability for-
mations. It is particularly effective
when drilling with high differential
pressures caused by an overbalanced
condition or when drilling depleted
zones. Treatments range from 2 to
10 sacks per hour when used as a
preventative measure. For depleted
zone drilling applications, SAFE-CARB
is most effective when used in com-
bination with a cellulose additive
like M-I-XE II.
• Effective bridging agent; essentially
inert and relatively insoluble, mini-
mum effect on fluid properties.
• Fine and Medium grades will pass
through most fine mesh shale
shaker screens.
• Requires less viscosity and gels for
suspension than other weighting
additives.
observing the precautions as
described on the Material Safety
Data Sheet (MSDS).
P.O. Box 721110
Houston, Texas 77272-1110
Tel: 281·561·1300
Fax: 281·561·7240
http://www.midf.com
E-mail: mimud@midf.com