API Recommended Practice (RP) 13B-1 is a widely used and authoritative standard in the petroleum and natural gas industries. It specifies the standard procedures for the field testing of water-based drilling fluids (WBFs).Â
The vast majority of field tests conducted by drilling-fluid companies are standardized according to API RP 13B-1 and its counterpart for oil-based fluids, API RP 13B-2. It is also identical to the international standard ISO 10414-1:2008.Â
Key Uses and Scope
API RP 13B-1 is the definitive guide for drilling fluid specialists, engineers, and laboratory technicians to monitor and assess the performance of drilling fluids at a rig site. Equipment manufacturers produce testing apparatus specifically designed to comply with this standard.Â
The recommended practice provides standard procedures for determining various characteristics of water-based drilling fluids, including:Â
The standard is a fundamental reference for ensuring that drilling fluids meet operational requirements for safe and efficient drilling operations.Â
| SDO | API: American Petroleum Institute |
| Document Number | 13B-1 |
| Publication Date | Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Language | en - English |
| Page Count | 144 |
| Revision Level | |
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