This paper aimed at comparing the characteristics of starches from two improved cassava species with polyanionic cellulose (PAC) employed in the oil and Gas industry as fluid loss control agent for water based mud (WBM) formulation. Cassava starches were extracted traditionally from TMS 98/0505 and TMS 30572 species of fresh cassava tubers and characterized to establish the physicochemical properties. The properties were compared to those of PAC (active ingredient for fluid loss control in WBM. The analytical results showed the following; moisture content (4.11%, 4.94%), pH (7, 8), dispersion (both poly dispersed), bulk density (617.34kg/m3, 943.4kg/m3) and particle size distribution (both fine) for TMS 98/0505 and TMS 30572 respectively. The result indicated closer similarity between TMS 98/0505 and PAC, and may therefore be used partly with PAC or replace PAC in WBM formulation.
