Bensus suspension agent is an organophilic amino-attapulgite designed to control the settling of solids in oil-based drilling fluids. Its unique rheological structure suspends weighting materials and other solids with less increase in viscosity and gel strength compared to conventional bentonite or hectorite-based organoclays. This allows for the formulation of low viscosity muds with undiminished penetration rates and effective cuttings removal. Bensus suspension agent can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional organoclays. The solids suspension capacity of a fluid already thickened with an organoclay can be increased by the addition of Bensus, without substantially increasing the system's viscosity.