Resumen de Drilling grade barite: : the global outlook
In contrast, the US uses over 95% of its barite output for the oil drilling industry, highlighting a general correlation between rig activity and barite consumption, though this ratio has been affected over the past decade due to increased horizontal drilling, which in the US currently accounts for 70% of compared with only 15% in 2004 ( Figure 3 ). It appears that increased drilling of horizontal holes per rig platform has resulted in higher consumption of barite per rig.
In terms of drilling location, the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is the largest consumer of drilling-grade barite in the world, and for a number of years this was dominated by imports of Chinese lump barite to grinding mills in various coastal locations. Indian barite supply has risen and is now believed to account for nearly one quarter of imports to the GoM.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) introduced a new barite grade (SG 4.1) in August 2010, in addition to the long-standing 4.2 specification. The intention was not to replace the 4.2 grade, but to provide the end-user with choice as to which material to use. This change was driven in part by a shortage of SG 4.2 barite, especially from mines in Nevada, which is the US's primary domestic barite producing region. Drilling-grade barite is specified by the API and must meet certain SG, chemical and sizing requirements ( Table 1 ).
