BARITE

Barite is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It receives its name from the Greek word «barys» which means «heavy.» The high specific gravity of barite makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial, medical, and manufacturing uses.
Drilling in high pressure wells is very challenging due to the need for formulation and precise design of drilling mud. One of the advantages of using Barite in drilling mud is the ability to increase the final weight of the mud. Barite increases the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud and thus controls the high-pressure areas under operation. It can be used in drilling deep wells to carry cuttings to the surface.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has defined the Barite specification used in drilling industry. Barite should have a relative density of 4.2 grams per cubic centimeter and should be crushed into a powder with at least 97% passing through a 200-mesh sieve.