APPLICATION INFORMATIONDEFOAMERS FOR WATER-BASED DRILLING FLUIDS

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids

Contents
03 BYK defoamers for water-based drilling fluids
04 Defoaming and anti-foam performance
05 Example 1: Seawater sodium lignosulfonate drilling fluid
07 Example 2: HEC polymer drilling fluid
09 Conclusions
09 Key benefits

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BYK defoamers for water-based drilling fluids
Foam-stabilizing substances are inherent in water-baseddrilling fluids. Defoamers are therefore used to avoid theformation of foam (anti-foam) and/or to destroy existing
foam (defoamer) as rapidly as possible. Foam interfereswith the functions of a drilling fluid. The negative effects
of foam can include the entrained gas reducing the mudweight, which can lead to hole problems. Moreover, foam
reduces the efficiency of the pumps, which will make holecleaning less efficient. Additionally, excessive foam canspill over the mud pits and be a potential pollutant.
Anti-foam functionality is essential to prevent foam fromreforming as the drilling fluid is continually agitated duringcirculation.

To meet these needs in daily drilling activities,
BYK recommends five differentiated oilfield defoamers,
all of which are VOC-free:•	A mineral oil emulsion defoamer containing silicone:BYK-038•	A mixture of foam-destroying polymers withhydrophobic particles: BYK-GO 8750
•	An emulsion of foam-destroying polymers withhydrophobic particles and silicone: BYK-1641•	A mixture of foam-destroying polysiloxanes
and hydrophobic solids in polyglycol: BYK-022•	An emulsion of hydrophobic solids, emulsifiers
and foam-destroying polysiloxanes: BYK-1610

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids

Defoaming and anti-foam performance
The BYK defoamers were tested in a seawater sodium
lignosulfonate drilling fluid (formulation 1) and in a brine
HEC polymer drilling fluid (formulation 2). Total foam
reduction was measured using the initial fluid height in a
1,000-ml graduated glass cylinder minus the 3-minute fluidheight. The liquid portion of the formulation measured inmilliliters was factored out so that only the foam generated

Watch the performanceof BYK defoamers:
Video 1
Video 2and removed was included in the final calculations. Foam
reduction efficacy at 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 lb/bbl of each
additive was measured after one-, two- and three-minuteperiods. In addition, samples of both formulations werere-agitated after treatment and minimal to no foam
regeneration was observed. All five products demonstrated
excellent anti-foam performance.

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids

Example 1: Seawater sodium lignosulfonate drilling fluid
A sodium lignosulfonate formulation was used asformulation 1 (T. 01). This is a common classification ofwater-based drilling fluids that can be used in all aqueous
drilling environments, including freshwater and brines. For
our test protocol, the formulation was mixed under highshear conditions. Xanthan gum was added to stabilize theair entrained during mixing. The five defoamers were eachtested and measured as previously described. The efficacyof the defoamers can be compared to the foam of theuntreated control. Without the addition of defoamers, there
was no foam reduction within three minutes. The test
results for the five BYK defoamers in sodium lignosulfonate
drilling fluid are shown in Figure G. 01 and G. 02.

Formulation 1Component

AmountDeionized water

262.5 mlSea salt ASTM

11.0 gSodium lignosulfonate

2.3 g

Xanthan gum

0.2 g

OCMA clay

11.3 gNaOH (solid)

1.1 g
T. 01

Results of defoaming tests in sodium lignosulfonate formulation

Fluid height (ml)

BYK-038

BYK-GO 8750

BYK-1641

BYK-022

BYK-1610

700
600
500
400
300
2001000Initial

123

Initial123

Initial123

Initial123

Initial123
Time (min.)Control  

0.05 lb/bbl  

0.1 lb/bbl  

0.2 lb/bbl

G. 01

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids / Example 1: Seawater sodium lignosulfonate drilling fluid% remaining foam after 3 min

Defoaming performances in sodium lignosulfonate formulation
100 %

80 %

60 %

40 %

20 %0%
Control
Control  

0.05 lb/bbl  

0.1 lb/bbl  

BYK-038

BYK-GO 8750

BYK-1641

BYK-022

BYK-1610
G. 02

0.2 lb/bbl

In the sodium lignosulfonate system, the performance of the five defoamers ranged
from 60 – 88 % foam removal:• BYK-1610 achieved the best results with 88 % foam
reduction after 3 minutes at a dosage of 0.2 lb/bbl.
• BYK-038 showed the peak foam reduction of 83 % atjust at 0.1 lb/bbl.

• BYK-GO 8750, BYK-1641, BYK-022 and BYK-1610 all
continued to increase foam reduction as more defoamer
was added. This suggests the total foam reduction
capabilities would increase with higher treatment levels.

Each of the five additives tested is chemically unique andinteracted differently with the lignosulfonate drilling fluid.
To further demonstrate the efficacy of BYK‘s family ofdefoamers, a second system that generates foam
via a different mechanism was tested for comparison.

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids

Example 2: HEC polymer drilling fluid
The second system was a HEC polymer brine solution (T.02).
This system was mixed under the same high shear
conditions as formulation 1. The result was a firm, stabilizedfoam. The five defoamers were again all tested according tothe protocol described above. No foam reduction occurred

Formulation 2during the three minutes without the additionof defoamers.

Component

The test results for the five BYK defoamers in HEC polymer
drilling fluid are shown in Figure G.03 and G.04.

AmountSaturated NaCl brine

350 mlHEC Polymer

0.75 gT.02

Results of defoaming tests in HEC polymer formulation

Fluid height (ml)

BYK-038

BYK-GO 8750

BYK-1641

BYK-022

BYK-1610

700
600
500
400
300
200
1000
Initial123

Initial123

Initial123

Initial123Initial

123Time (min.)Control  

0.05 lb/bbl  

0.1 lb/bbl  

0.2 lb/bbl

G. 03

08Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids / Example 2: HEC polymer drilling fluid% remaining foam after 3 min

Defoaming performances in HEC polymer formulation
100 %

80 %

60 %

40 %

20 %0%
Control
Control  

0.05 lb/bbl  

0.1 lb/bbl  

BYK-038

BYK-GO 8750

BYK-1641

BYK-022

BYK-1610
G. 04

0.2 lb/bbl

In the HEC polymer system, the performance of the five defoamers ranged from 32–78 %foam mitigation after the three minutes:• BYK-1641 performed best in this system with aprogressive foam mitigation as the dosage increased,reaching 78 % at 0.2 lb/bbl.
• BYK-038 destroyed 70 % of the foam at a treatment of0.1 lb/bbl. Additional defoamer did not improve the foam
reduction.

• BYK-GO 8750 required a treatment of 0.05 lb/bbl to
reduce foam by 21 %. An incremental treatment of0.2 lb/bbl improved performance to 59 % foam reduction.
• BYK-022 required a treatment of 0.05 lb/bbl to destroy
32 % of the foam. Higher dosages did not result in betterfoam reduction.

• BYK-1610 destroyed 41 % of the foam at a treatment of0.05 lb/bbl. Increasing to 0.2 lb/bbl improved performance
to 64 % foam reduction.

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Defoamers for water-based drilling fluids

Conclusions
The results of the evaluation show that the maximum
defoaming efficiency depends on the suitability of theapplied defoamer for the system. The two test systems
demonstrate the compatibility of the BYK defoamers andthe different ways in which foam is produced anddestroyed.
In the seawater sodium lignosulfonate drilling fluid(formulation 1), the defoamers must function at highpH levels and in the presence of multivalent cations(Ca2+, Mg2+) found in seawater. The foam is generated
by the anionic lignite and stabilized by xanthan gum.
In this formulation, BYK-1610 had superior defoamingperformance.
The HEC polymer drilling fluid (formulation 2) tests thedefoamer’s ability to operate without free water and witha high electrolyte content. The HEC polymer produces highviscosity and entrains the air. In this system, BYK-1641 andBYK-038 were the most effective products.

Key benefits
BYK has an extensive range of defoamers beyond thefive shown. The chemistry includes mineral oil, polymer
and polysiloxane defoamers with and without hydrophobic
particles. Our experience in surface chemistry is one of ourcore strengths. BYK has a defoamer and anti-foam solution
to meet your formulation needs.
Which one is best for your system?
Our application labs are here to assist you. For more
information on BYK‘s extensive line of defoamers,
visit byk.com.

02/2022OG-A 3
BYK USA Inc.
524 South Cherry Street
P.O. Box 5670
Wallingford, CT 06492
USA
Tel 203 265-2086
Fax 203 284-9158
info@byk.com
www.byk.com

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and VISCOBYK® are registered trademarks of the BYK group.
The information and data stated herein, although in no way guaranteed, are based upon tests and reports considered to be reliable and are believed
to be accurate. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made or intended. Use by a customer should be based upon their own investigations andappraisals. Any recommendation should not be construed as an invitation to use a material in infringement of patents.
This issue replaces all previous versions.