Shale Stabilizers control hydration, sloughing, heaving of shale & claystones to maximize the efficiency of the drilling operations and avoid hole instability. Shale stabilizers are non-chloride salts such as potassium acetate, potassium citrate, potassium formate, aluminum acetate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum citrate, cesium acetate, cesium formate and calcium citrate. The shale stabilizers are very hydrophillic. Shale stabilizers are added to the mud to stabilize the shale from being affected by the mud.