Explore the Energy Glossary

Look up terms beginning with:

base oil

1. n. [Drilling Fluids]

Refers to the continuous phase in oil-based drilling fluids. Oil-based drilling fluids are water-in-oil emulsions in which water is the dispersed phase and oil is the dispersion, or continuous, phase. Oil-to-water ratios (OWRs) in oil-based drilling fluids vary from 65/35 to 95/5.