Since 1994
A manufacturer, not a trader. Bentonite at Bhuj, polymers at Domjur.
Pileman® SDF: bentonite drilling fluid for sand, gravel and rock
Smart Drilling Fluid for all your civil-engineering drilling in fresh water.
Description
Pileman® SDF is a high-yield bentonite drilling fluid for trenchless and foundation drilling in fresh water: horizontal directional drilling, microtunnelling, piling and diaphragm walls. Its slurry is designed so you can drill in sand, gravel or rock, not only clay. It builds a thixotropic gel, lays a thin filter cake for low fluid loss, cools and lubricates the bit, and keeps sand content low.
Used for: HDD · Microtunnelling · Piling and diaphragm walls
Other HDD grades: Pileman® Trenchless · Pileman® BH
What goes wrong on site
What you see on site
What this does about it
- The ground turns to sand, gravel or rock.
- The slurry is designed to drill in sand, gravel and rock, not only clay.
- Ground conditions change partway along the bore.
- Alter the slurry at any time with polymer we supply separately.
- Jacking pressure climbs on a long microtunnel drive.
- As side support, the thixotropic slurry cuts wall friction, so tunnel pressure drops.
- Pump liners wear out fast.
- Low sand content protects the mud pump liners.
Technical properties
- 140 bbl/shtYield
- 67″Marsh funnel viscosity
- 19 mlAPI fluid loss
- 20 minMixing time
- 28–33 mlFree swelling volume
- 8.5–9.5pH, 3% dispersion
At 50 kg per m³ of fresh water treated with soda ash (light), plus its polymer gel. Free swelling volume and pH (3% dispersion) are properties of the bentonite powder as supplied.
Packing 25 kg bags, stretch-wrapped on wooden pallets, or 1,300 kg jumbo bags.
Not sure of your water or your ground?
Send us the water analysis or the ground report. The technical desk reads it and replies within 1 working day.
Made by us. Checked by others.
ISO 9001:2015
All our plants are quality management system certified.
One 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pileman® SDF?
Pileman® SDF (Smart Drilling Fluid) is Pileman® mixed with its polymer gel on site, for civil-engineering drilling in fresh water: HDD, microtunnelling and foundation drilling. It is designed to drill in sand, gravel or rock as well as clay.
How much goes into one m³ of slurry?
50 kg of Pileman® with 500 g of its polymer gel per 1,000 litres of fresh water. Mix the Pileman® for 15 minutes, add the gel, then mix 5 more.
What does a yield of 140 bbl/sht mean?
It is how much slurry one short ton of powder makes: 140 barrels. More slurry from the same tonnage means less to buy, ship and store.
When do I choose it over Pileman® Trenchless?
When the ground is sand, gravel or rock, or for microtunnelling. Hard water (mostly non-chloride salts): pre-mix soda ash (light) into the water, then use Pileman® SDF. Brackish water up to 16,000 ppm takes Pileman® BH.
Can it be used for microtunnelling and pipe jacking?
Yes. As face support in fresh water it stabilises the face and carries the spoil. Injected as side support, its thixotropic slurry cuts the friction along the pipe string, so tunnel pressure falls and more pipes are pushed per tonne.
Can I adjust the slurry on site?
Yes. You can alter the slurry properties at any time by adding polymer, which we supply separately. It also works with other organic additives, such as polymers and cellulose.
How is Pileman® SDF supplied?
In 25 kg bags, stretch-wrapped on wooden pallets, or in 1,300 kg jumbo bags. For pricing, lead time and shipping to your port, ask for a quotation.
Which test methods and standards apply?
Pileman® SDF meets API 13A and OCMA DFCP-4 specifications where relevant, and is made under an ISO 9001:2015 quality system. Every test method is listed on its data sheet.
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