KB International enters the HDD market with SlurrySMART HDD
Traditionally, the drilling fluid used in HDD has been a bentonite and water mixture, with various additives utilized to accommodate more difficult ground and water conditions. While this has been the traditional approach, the use of bentonite does have some drawbacks, particularly around transportation, disposal and environmental impact.
KB International saw an opportunity to innovate in the HDD space with their synthetic polymer products. Since 1992, KB International has been a world leader in the development of synthetic polymer slurries and synthetic formation stabilization systems. Their approach is unique in that they first identify an industry where an opportunity exists and then engineer a product designed specifically for that industry and its unique challenges.
After years of research and testing to create a product specifically designed for the HDD industry, SlurrySMART HDD was introduced to the market.
Key Benefits of SlurrySMART HDD vs. Bentonite
Let’s discuss the benefits of SlurrySMART HDD vs. bentonite in the following key areas:
Product Volume
Key benefit: Far less product volume required vs bentonite
A major advantage of using SlurrySMART HDD over bentonite for your drilling fluid is that far less volume is required to do the same job - approximately 1%!
Putting it in terms of a typical 500 gallon system, 2 lbs of SlurrySMART HDD is equivalent to roughly 200 lbs of bentonite.
Looking at a larger project requiring two 18 lb boxes of SlurrySMART HDD, we see the difference is even more clear. This same project that requires a total of 36 lbs of SlurrySMART HDD would require one full pallet, or 3600 lbs, of bentonite for the same job.
This vast difference in product volume required leads to massive cost savings across multiple project stages.
Transportation
Key benefit: Transportation is cheaper, faster and easier
With the far lower volume of SlurrySMART HDD required vs. bentonite, resulting transportation costs are much cheaper.
Whereas bentonite has to be trucked in to the job site due to the sheer volume of product required, with SlurrySMART HDD you can take advantage of much more cost-effective and faster shipping methods such as UPS, DHL, etc on smaller jobs.
For projects requiring a larger volume of product, the cost and convenience of SlurrySMART HDD becomes even more prevalent. One pallet of SlurrySMART HDD can easily be trucked to site on a one-tonne flatbed truck anywhere in the United States for around $200-$400.
In comparison, you would need two full semi truck loads of bentonite to equal that one pallet of SlurrySMART HDD, at a minimum transportation cost of around $3000.
KB International can get you the SlurrySMART HDD product you need quickly and effectively due to the variety of shipping methods available. No more freight brokers and exorbitant rush fees to achieve a quick turnaround.
In a time of constantly increasing transportation costs and supply chain interruptions, KB’s customers have peace of mind knowing they have more options for faster delivery at a much lower cost.
Potential to decrease/eliminate disposal requirements
Key benefit: Potential to decrease/eliminate disposal requirements
The disposal requirements for bentonite can vary greatly between regions, with some having almost no disposal requirements and others requiring for it to be trucked out of the project site to a licensed waste disposal site via tanker truck.
This is an extremely expensive process as the tanker trucks required to safely transport the liquid bentonite mixture are triple the cost of a dump truck. Additionally, there are potential liability issues that go along with transporting liquid hazardous materials across significant distances.
On a variety of projects across many jurisdictions, SlurrySMART HDD has been approved for re-release into water bodies and has been proven non-toxic and non-hazardous by the NSF, EPA, DoT and several other governmental agencies, thus eliminating the need for disposal and providing large cost savings over the use of bentonite drilling mud. It even has a secondary use for dust control post-project, as it is UV degradable.
For projects occurring in jurisdictions that aren’t yet familiar with using synthetic polymer solutions like SlurrySMART HDD, you may be subject to the same disposal requirements as with a bentonite solution. So, the worst case scenario is that you would sustain the same level of costs for disposal as with a traditional bentonite-based drilling solution.
However, through their extensive project history, KB International has established many close working relationships with government regulators and, via proof of concept onsite, data disclosure and case studies, they have been successful at getting SlurrySMART HDD approved for project use and subsequent release back into the environment on the vast majority of projects.
Ease of use
Key benefit: Conveniently packaged for easy use, less mess
Working with bentonite is a messy and laborious process involving employees carrying and ripping open bags, often leading to product spillage and waste. When handling bentonite, employees are also exposed to bentonite dust, which may be a potential health hazard. Further, in wet conditions, bentonite can make an extremely muddy, slippery mess out of your equipment and around the job site
SlurrySMART HDD is much tidier to work with and comes in both 22 lb pails and a convenient 2 lb jar, designed specifically for the 500 gallon systems commonly used in HDD. If more product is required for your soil conditions, simply add another scoop of SlurrySMART HDD to your system until you reach the required consistency.
In contrast, if you are using a bentonite base and need to increase the viscosity of your solution, for example, you would need to add more sacks of bentonite to your system resulting in more mess, time/product wastage and employee exposure to bentonite dust.
Additionally, you also need to have a significantly higher amount of extra product on hand to deal with this potential scenario, or face high costs and time delays to get it shipped to site.
By simplifying this process with SlurrySMART HDD you will increase your efficiency on the job site, helping to keep your project on time and on budget.
Public perception
Key benefit: Improved public perception due to water-like appearance
With many HDD projects taking place in residential communities, it is vital for companies to manage public perception of their project.
When an inadvertent return occurs on a project using bentonite, residents tend to become concerned as the liquid gray/brown mud bubbles to the surface and causes a mess. The company then has to immediately act to clean up the mess and allay the concerns of affected residents.
In contrast, SlurrySMART HDD produces a clear, water-like fluid. So, in the event of an inadvertent return, people are less likely to become alarmed should the fluid come to the surface.
Additionally, since SlurrySMART HDD has been proven non-toxic and non-hazardous, there are no issues around environmental health and safety should this occur.
Competitive advantage
Key benefit: Shows your company is forward-thinking by integrating more environmentally friendly solutions
With ESG initiatives gaining traction, it is important for companies to consider the impact of positioning themselves as environmental leaders in their field. Environmental issues are at the forefront of public discourse and it is important to continue to innovate your HDD business by staying on the leading edge of technology.
SlurrySMART HDD provides an innovative, environmentally-friendly alternative to the traditional bentonite-based drilling muds and, as mentioned above, it has been declared non-toxic, non-hazardous and approved for safe release back into the environment after use.
From a health perspective, it is important to note that Europe has started to impose more regulations on bentonite use, citing toxicity of the silica layers. Some studies show it can cause cancer and, as such, many industries have already moved away from using it for drilling.
These regulations will likely make their way over to Canada and the United States in the coming years, making it vital to explore options such as SlurrySMART HDD as an alternative to bentonite.
Innovate your business with SlurrySMART HDD
In today’s challenging business landscape, it is important to have the best tools available to ensure your project stays on time and on budget. KB International understands the challenges of the HDD industry and has designed SlurrySMART HDD specifically to increase the efficiency of HDD projects.
Additionally, we understand that environmental factors must be considered from start to finish of any project, so it is vital to work with products such as SlurrySMART HDD that enable you to reduce environmental impact.
Being able to fulfill these needs for your customers gives you a significant competitive advantage, and KB International is proud to provide the products and support to assist our HDD customers in delivering these innovative and effective solutions.
Where can I learn more about SlurrySMART HDD?
For more information and to purchase SlurrySMART HDD online, please visit our main product page here.
Interested in learning more about our past projects? Make sure to check out our Projects page here!
Who can I contact at KB International for more information?
If you have questions about SlurrySMART HDD and would like to get in touch with someone at KB directly, please fill out the contact form here and someone will get back to you shortly. We look forward to learning more about your project and discussing how SlurrySMART HDD can improve your project efficiency.
