What is Zinc Bromide?

Zinc Bromide (ZnBr₂) is a dense, inorganic chemical compound widely used in the oil and gas industry as a heavy brine fluid for well completion, workover, and packer fluids. It appears as a colorless to slightly yellow crystalline solid and is highly soluble in water, forming a clear, dense solution.

The primary feature of zinc bromide solutions is their high density, which can be adjusted from about 10 to over 18 pounds per gallon (ppg). This makes zinc bromide ideal for controlling formation pressures during drilling and completion operations, especially in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells.

Zinc bromide brines also exhibit excellent chemical stability, low corrosivity, and compatibility with various drilling and completion additives. They provide a non-damaging fluid system that minimizes formation damage while ensuring wellbore stability.

In addition to oilfield uses, zinc bromide is employed in the chemical industry as a catalyst, in radiation shielding fluids due to its high density, and in photographic processing.

While zinc bromide solutions are generally safe when used with appropriate precautions, concentrated forms can be corrosive and toxic if mishandled, requiring proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and handling procedures.

USES AND APPLICATIONS

INDUSTRIES

Zinc bromide is extensively used in:

• Oil and gas well completion and workover fluids
• High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) drilling operations
• Radiation shielding fluids in medical and industrial applications
• Chemical synthesis and catalysis
• Photographic and imaging processes