drilling fluid

noun

A fluid used to aid the drilling of boreholes, serving to provide hydrostatic pressure, to keep the drill bit cool and clean, and to suspend the drill cuttings.

Similar
drilling mud
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Meanings

noundrilling fluid (countable and uncountable, plural drilling fluids)

plural drilling fluids

  1. countableuncountableA fluid used to aid the drilling of boreholes, serving to provide hydrostatic pressure, to keep the drill bit cool and clean, and to suspend the drill cuttings.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna mixture of clays and chemicals and water; pumped down the drill pipe to lubricate and cool the drilling bit and to flush out the cuttings and to strengthen the sides of the hole

Similar
drilling mud
Broader
lubricantlubricatorlubricating substance

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish porausneste
  • porausnestefluid to aid drilling
Cite this entry
APA

drilling fluid. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drilling%20fluid

MLA

“drilling fluid.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drilling%20fluid. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “drilling fluid,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drilling%20fluid.

Source: drilling fluid on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.