Case studies, fluid guides, and formation analysis from real Australasian projects.
Featured Case Study
Phase one completed ahead of schedule in December 2024. The refined fluid system saved $400–500 per drill shot in product costs
and around $3,500 per shot in disposal fees — a significant saving across the full programme. Zero frac-outs. Bore stable overnight. The crew also proactively improved nearby footpath safety beyond the project scope.
“The Blick team really knows their mud. We get a lot of reactive clay around here and they give us recipes that work perfectly.”
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On New Zealand's largest wastewater project, a liner delivery delay threatened a 76-metre deep shaft. Blick designed a fluid system that kept it stable for 91 days beyond design specifications.
Tauranga City Council's Te Maunga outfall required 100m of DN1200mm HDPE pipe installed inside an existing concrete duct under the Tauranga Eastern Link motorway. Kwik-ZIP casing spacers and Blick technical support solved a complex set of joint and lip challenges.
A five-well HTHP plug-and-abandonment campaign required high-density brines and cement spacers. An engineered alternative to Sodium Bromide reduced total campaign costs by 60% and individual well costs by up to 90%.
Working on a challenging formation?
Talk to our engineering team →Highly reactive, sticky clay causes reamer balling, thick cuttings beds, and stuck pipe. This guide covers reamer selection, the right fluid system, and the pumping ratios that make the difference.
New Zealand's variable geology has historically meant sourcing coring consumables from either expensive overseas suppliers or local contractors who were also your competitors. Blick changed that.
A practical framework for using long-chain PHPA polymer as a bentonite alternative in foundation piling. Covers mixing, contamination, maintenance, concrete displacement, and how to stabilise a bored pile under fluid.
Three chemical strategies for drilling through clay formations. Understanding which approach suits your ground conditions is the difference between a smooth bore and a stuck drill string.
Sodium vs calcium bentonite, viscosity vs filtration control, yield vs quality — a plain-language explanation of the properties that matter when selecting bentonite for HDD, piling, and waterwell applications.
Critical trenchless installations require fluid systems designed for actual ground conditions. How Blick uses geotechnical reports, formation samples, and site photos to build tailored fluid programmes.
Part 3 of Blick's clay series. How to examine cuttings samples in real time, adjust your fluid mix, and use rheology testing to maintain a healthy drilling fluid programme on site.
A two-part guide to HDD installation methodology. Part 1 covers project design, fluid design, and the pilot phase. Part 2 covers reaming sequences and the pipe pull — the stages where most bore failures occur.
PHPA polymers vs traditional bentonite for foundation piling. How polymer-assisted piling reduces friction, improves stability, and streamlines site operations.
Watch product demos, fluid mixing tutorials, and job-site walkthroughs from the Blick team. New videos added regularly.
Structured Learning
Our Mud School programme delivers hands-on fluid training for drillers and engineers.
Go to Mud School →