The main mechanisms of action of potassium formate can be summarized as follows

1. Ion exchange: K+ ions in potassium formate can exchange with Na+ ions in montmorillonite, forming a stable structure that prevents soil expansion and dispersion.

2. Lattice fixation: The size of K+ ions is suitable for filling the gaps between adjacent layers of illite in soil, forming strong bonds that restrict soil expansion and separation.

3. Charge neutralization: The high ion concentration in potassium formate solution can compress the double electric layer of soil particles, reducing soil negative charge and decreasing hydration expansion capacity.

4.Reduced activity: Addition of potassium formate can reduce free water in drilling fluid, creating a pressure differential that prevents pressure transmission to shale formations, thereby inhibiting shale hydration expansion and dispersion.

During normal drilling operations, it's important to strictly control the ratio of solids and liquids, as otherwise significant thickening effects may occur, making it difficult to control viscosity and shear force later on. On-site small-scale experiments can be conducted to determine the appropriate ratio of solids and liquids for the well. Potassium formate and other polymer treatment agents should be added in the form of a gel to avoid significant fluctuations in drilling fluid performance.

Indexes of Potassium formate of Shanxi Zhaoyi Chemical Co.,Ltd