Tunnel drilling lubricant plays a critical role in ensuring smooth, efficient, and cost-effective underground drilling operations. Modern tunneling projects face extreme challenges such as abrasive rock formations, hard water, high TDS levels, cementitious additives, and long continuous drilling cycles. Without the right tunnel drilling lubricant, equipment wear, cutter choking, excessive torque, and frequent downtime become unavoidable.
Petropath addresses these challenges with PP Ethoxylate (Drilling Grade)—a high-performance tunnel drilling lubricant and surfactant engineered specifically for demanding tunnel and underground drilling applications.
Understanding the Role of Tunnel Drilling Lubricant in Underground Projects
A tunnel drilling lubricant is not just an additive—it is a performance-critical component of drilling fluid systems. It reduces friction between drilling tools and formations, improves wetting, controls dust, and ensures efficient cuttings removal. In tunnel boring and underground drilling, where access and maintenance are limited, lubricant reliability directly impacts project timelines and operational costs.
Petropath’s tunnel drilling lubricant is formulated to remain stable in complex drilling environments, making it ideal for infrastructure tunneling, metro rail projects, hydropower tunnels, and underground utility installations.
Product Overview – Petropath PP Ethoxylate (Drilling Grade)
Product Name: PP Ethoxylate (Drilling Grade)
Category: Tunnel Drilling Lubricant / Surfactant
Packing: 200 Liters HDPE Drum
Category: Tunnel Drilling Lubricant / Surfactant
Packing: 200 Liters HDPE Drum
PP Ethoxylate is a non-ionic surfactant based tunnel drilling lubricant designed to deliver superior lubrication, wetting, and fluid stability. Its high active content ensures consistent performance even at low dosage levels, making it a cost-effective choice for large-scale tunneling projects.
Technical Specifications
Petropath’s tunnel drilling lubricant meets stringent drilling fluid performance standards:
- Chemical Name: Polypropylene Glycol Ethoxylate
- Grade: Drilling Grade
- Active Content: ≥ 98%
- Solubility: Fully miscible with water; soluble in most organic solvents
- Specific Gravity: 1.02 – 1.08 g/mL @ 25°C
- Viscosity: 50 – 150 cP @ 25°C
- Foam Control: Controlled foam generation for drilling systems
- Biodegradability: Readily biodegradable
- Handling & Safety: Non-hazardous with standard precautions
- Recommended Dosage: 0.1% – 0.2%
Why PP Ethoxylate Is a Preferred Tunnel Drilling Lubricant
Petropath’s tunnel drilling lubricant is widely used across underground drilling projects due to its compatibility and performance advantages:
- Works efficiently in hard water and high TDS environments
- Stable with cement, lime, bentonite, and polymer additives
- Non-reactive with salts and minerals
- Provides controlled foam generation
- Enhances lubrication, wetting, and dust suppression
- Prevents cutter choking and excessive torque
Step-by-Step Mixing Procedure for Tunnel Drilling Lubricant
Correct mixing ensures optimal performance of the tunnel drilling lubricant:
- Fill the mixing tank with clean water
- Start circulation or mechanical agitation
- Pre-dilute PP Ethoxylate in a 1:5 ratio with water
- Add slowly into the tank during circulation
- Mix for 10–15 minutes for uniform dispersion
- Pump the prepared fluid to the drilling line or foam generator
Operational Benefits
Using Petropath’s tunnel drilling lubricant delivers measurable operational advantages:
- Extended drill bit and cutter life
- Faster penetration rates
- Reduced torque and drag
- Lower equipment maintenance costs
- Minimized non-productive time
- Improved overall drilling efficiency
Applications
This tunnel drilling lubricant is suitable for:
- Tunnel boring machine (TBM) operations
- Underground infrastructure and metro tunneling
- Hydropower tunnel construction
- Utility and pipeline tunneling
- Hard rock and mixed-face formations
Conclusion
Petropath’s PP Ethoxylate (Drilling Grade) is a premium tunnel drilling lubricant engineered to meet the rigorous demands of modern tunneling projects. With high active content, excellent compatibility, and reliable lubrication performance, it enhances drilling efficiency while reducing operational risks and costs.
For advanced tunnel drilling chemicals and dependable underground drilling lubricant solutions, Petropath remains the trusted industry partner.
We provide worldwide delivery, custom configurations, and technical support tailored to your operational needs.