APPLICATION / INFRASTRUCTURE
Bentonite for water wells.
Annular seal, aquifer isolation and drilling fluid. Material from our own deposits, milled at our plant in the Zapala Industrial Park, in the particle size each function requires.
THREE DISTINCT FUNCTIONS
The same mineral
does three jobs.
In building a water well, bentonite appears at three moments with three different demands. Confusing them is the usual reason a material works on one job and disappoints on the next.
1. Annular seal. Between the casing and the drilled wall there is a gap that has to be closed. If it is not, that annulus becomes a conduit through which surface water — with whatever it carries: fertilisers, effluent, hydrocarbons — travels straight down to the captured aquifer. Hydrated bentonite forms a plastic plug that conforms to the irregularities of the wall and stays sealed over time.
2. Isolation between aquifers. When the well passes through more than one aquifer, they must be kept from connecting. A saline or contaminated upper aquifer can ruin a good one below if the well leaves them linked. The seal is placed at the depth of the impermeable layer that separates them.
3. Drilling fluid. While drilling, the fluid supports the wall, carries cuttings to the surface and cools the tool. When circulation stops, the clay structure holds the cuttings in suspension instead of letting them fall.
PARTICLE SIZE
Each function
has its grind.
| Function | Grind | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling fluid | 200 mesh | Fast, uniform hydration in the mixing tank |
| Annular seal | Granular | Falls without hydrating before reaching the intended depth |
| Aquifer isolation | Granular | Same reason: the seal must form down there, not on the way |
The difference matters. Material that is too fine, used as a seal, starts hydrating as soon as it touches the water in the well, sticks to the wall and bridges before reaching the intended depth: the seal ends up high and the interval that had to be isolated stays open. Our grinding range runs from 200 mesh to 3.5 mm, so both fractions are within what we produce.
SAMPLES AND ANALYSIS
The analysis that matters
is the one for your batch.
We do not publish a generic analysis of the material. We send samples to anyone who requests them and, when a customer needs an analysis, it is carried out on the batch that will actually be delivered.
This is a deliberate choice. A laboratory report published on a website corresponds to a sample taken on one particular day, from one particular lot, and says nothing about the material that will arrive at your plant. We would rather you validated ours with your own testing, on the real material of your order, before any commercial commitment.
Ask us for a sample, stating the application, the estimated volume and the requirements you have to meet. We arrange the shipment and, if your process calls for it, the analysis corresponding to the batch.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
What drillers
ask us.
Which grind goes with each use?
Fine grind, around 200 mesh, for the drilling fluid. Granular material for the annular seal and for aquifer isolation. We produce both fractions.
Can it seal the annulus of a drinking water well?
It is one of the enquiries we receive. For drinking water, the specification and the sanitary suitability are defined by the applicable provincial or municipal regulations and by the well's technical authority. We arrange samples and the technical documentation available for that assessment.
How much material do I need?
It depends on the borehole diameter, the casing diameter and the length of the interval to be sealed. With those three figures we can estimate it together with you.
Where is it dispatched from?
From our plant in the Zapala Industrial Park, province of Neuquén, Argentina.
Do you own the deposits?
Yes. Andacollo S.A. works its own deposits in Neuquén, awarded by discovery under the Argentine mining regime, and milling and packing are carried out at our plant in the Zapala Industrial Park. The material passes through no intermediary: continuity of quality and of supply depends on us, not on a third party.
Do you have an analysis of the material?
We send samples to anyone who requests them, and the analysis is carried out on the batch that will be delivered. We do not publish a generic report because it would correspond to a sample from another day and another lot: the figure that lets you decide is the one from your own batch.
HOW WE WORK
From your need
to a concrete proposal.
We talk
Type of well, depth, diameters and intended function.
We assess
We define grind and presentation for each use.
You validate
We arrange samples and available documentation.
We agree
Commercial terms and delivery schedule.
Tell us depth, diameters, the interval to be sealed and the estimated volume. We prepare the proposal with the grind that matches each function.
Ask about water wells ↗OTHER APPLICATIONS
One mineral,
different needs.
Bentonite for cat litter · Bentonite for waterproofing · Bentonite for earthing