Holds the face
At the cutting face the slurry forms a filter cake that secures the ground ahead of the machine. That is the face-support duty, at 50 kg per m³.
Bentonite slurry for tunnelling and microtunnelling
What is your mix water?
Not sure, or above 16,000 ppm? Send us your water analysisWhat bentonite slurry does in a pipe jack
Travels back along the tunnel
As the pipe jack progresses, the filter cake on the tunnel profile travels back with it, so the side walls stay strong along the whole drive.
Cuts the jacking pressure
Side slurry injection repairs and reinforces that side wall and secures the annular gap. Through its thixotropic action it substantially reduces wall friction, and the overall tunnel pressure falls with it.
Keeps the fluid in the bore
The mix is designed to deposit a thin, impermeable filter cake, so little fluid is lost into the ground. API fluid loss: 19 ml at 50 kg per m³.
Protects the pumps, cools the head
Low sand content means less erosion on your mud pump liners, and the slurry carries heat away from the cutting head and eases it through the ground.
Not sure of your water, or above 16,000 ppm?
Send us the water analysis. The technical desk reads it and replies within 1 working day.
Made by us. Checked by others.
Since 1994
A manufacturer, not a trader. Bentonite at Bhuj, polymers at Domjur.
ISO 9001:2015
All our plants are quality management system certified.
Star Export House
Recognised by the Government of India. We ship through Mundra and Kandla.
Own mine, Kutch
The clay in every bag comes from our own reserves in Kutch.
Choose your grade
Fresh or soda-ash-treated water takes Pileman® SDF. Brackish water up to 16,000 ppm takes Pileman® BH.
Pileman® SDF
For fresh water in sand, gravel or rock
- 50 kg/m³face-support dose, plus 500 g gel
- 67″Marsh viscosity, face support at 50 kg/m³
- 19 mlAPI fluid loss at 50 kg/m³
- 140 bbl/shtyield
- 55 kg/m³side-support dose, same mix
Pileman® BH
For brackish water up to 16,000 ppm
- 50 kg/m³dose
- 50″Marsh, at 50 kg/m³ in 5,000 ppm water
- 23 mlAPI filtrate
- 9 lb/100 ft²10 s gel strength
- 1.03slurry specific gravity
Back to one at a time
| Pileman® SDF | Pileman® BH | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | For fresh water in sand, gravel or rock | For brackish water up to 16,000 ppm |
| Dose | 50 kg/m³face-support dose, plus 500 g gel | 50 kg/m³ |
| Marsh viscosity | 67″Marsh viscosity, face support at 50 kg/m³ | 50″Marsh, at 50 kg/m³ in 5,000 ppm water |
| API filtrate | 19 mlAPI fluid loss at 50 kg/m³ | 23 ml |
| Yield | 140 bbl/sht | |
| Side-support dose, same mix | 55 kg/m³ | |
| 10 s gel strength | 9 lb/100 ft² | |
| Specific gravity | 1.03slurry specific gravity |
How much bentonite per m³ of slurry
- Check the water. Add soda ash (light) to the make-up water first. Brackish water up to 16,000 ppm takes Pileman® BH instead.
- Mix 50 kg and 500 g of gel per 1,000 litres. That is the face-support dose. For side support the same mix goes in at 55 kg per 1,000 litres.
- Mix 15 minutes, then 5 more. The bentonite mixes for 15 minutes; once the gel goes in, give it 5 minutes more. At 50 kg per m³ it should read a Marsh viscosity of 67″ — run it through your own funnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bentonite and polymer are used for microtunnelling slurry?
Pileman® bentonite with its polymer gel, mixed on site as Pileman® SDF, for pipe jacking and microtunnelling in fresh water, in sand, gravel or rock. For brackish water up to 16,000 ppm, Pileman® BH.
How much Pileman® SDF goes into one m³ of slurry?
50 kg of Pileman® with 500 g of its polymer gel, per 1,000 litres of fresh water.
What is the difference between face support and side support?
The duty and the dose, not the product. At 50 kg per m³ the slurry supports the face and holds the ground ahead of the machine. At 55 kg per m³ the same mix goes in as side slurry, reinforcing the tunnel profile and securing the annular gap. One mix, no second grade to stock.
What if my site water is brackish?
Pileman® BH is specially designed for drilling where the water is saline. With soda ash pre-mixed into the water, mix it straight into brackish water up to 5,000 ppm. Drills in up to 16,000 ppm conditions when hydrated in fresh water. Above that, send us a water analysis.
Does the slurry reduce the jacking force?
Yes, that is what the side slurry is for. Injected around the pipe string, it supports the side wall and fills the gap around the pipes, which cuts friction and lowers the jacking force.
Why price bentonite per m³ of slurry and not per tonne?
Because your drive pays for slurry, not for bags. A good bentonite needs a lower dose, and it seeps less into the ground, so the drive makes fewer cuttings and needs less slurry to finish. That total, not the bag price, is your real cost.
Who supplies Pileman® SDF?
Amrfeo Private Limited, a manufacturer since 1994, makes and exports both parts of Pileman® SDF, the bentonite and its polymer gel, supplying buyers across the Gulf, Europe and Asia.
Do Pileman® SDF and Pileman® BH meet API 13A and OCMA DFCP-4?
Yes. Pileman® SDF and Pileman® BH have been tested to API 13A and OCMA DFCP-4 specifications. Pileman® BH also mixes straight into brackish water up to 5,000 ppm, with soda ash pre-mixed into the water.
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