Across the various invert emulsion systems, AES Drilling Fluids provides robust emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants to address drilling challenges while controlling cost. Through our expertise in developing many of our products, our options provide optimal drilling fluid properties under the most difficult drilling conditions. 

Emulsifiers and wetting agents are essential additives for any invert emulsion (oil-based or synthetic-based) drilling fluid system. Emulsifiers typically offer some oil-wetting characteristics while wetting agents provide some emulsification properties. Dispersants provide additional oil-wetting.

Emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants are all based upon surfactant chemistry, but they have distinct differences depending upon performance objectives. For example, our AES MUL X is optimized for AES VERT, which utilizes diesel or distillate as the base fluid, while ENERMUL and ENERMUL II are designed for the rheological profile desired using EnerREACH. Similarly, AES WA X and ENERWET have structures to reflect performance targets at an optimal price. Our entire portfolio balances various performance and environmental targets with the most cost-effective solution for a given system.

A surfactant features a “water-loving” hydrophilic end and an “oil-loving” lipophilic end. The ratio of hydrophilic and lipophilic portions of a surfactant molecule is referred to as the HLB number (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance). The HLB value indicates whether or not the surfactant is soluble in oil or water, and its ability to generate invert emulsions and oil-wetting capabilities.