Barite 1 : (n) Barium sulfate, BaSO4; a mineral frequently used to increase the weight or density of drilling mud. Its relative density is 4.2 (meaning that it is 4.2 times denser than water). See: Barium Sulfate, Mud
US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing eTool, Washington, DC. This is an abridged version of the Dictionary of Petroleum Terms provided by Petex and the University of Texas Austin, USA 2001. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/oilandgas/glossary _of_terms/glossary_of_terms_a.html, (Oil Well Drilling Sci and Tech - Amer) {492}