1. n. [Drilling Fluids]

A device to measure density (weight) of a mud, cement or other liquid or slurry under sufficient pressure that the effect of gas bubbles in the liquid is eliminated. The balance consists of a fixed-volume mud cup on one end of a graduated beam and a counterweight on the other end. The beam has a knife-edge as a balance point and a bubble to show when it is level. The mud cup has a screw-on, sealed cap with a valve in the cap to allow connection of a small piston-type hand pump. Operation of the pressurized balance is identical to an ordinary mud balance after pressurization.

See: gas-cut mud,  hydrostatic pressure,  mud balance,  mud cup,  mud weight,  slurry