Abstract: The invention concerns a method for underground mining comprising the following steps: circulating in a well a foaming composition containing surfactants with cloud point higher than the temperature of the underground formation, heating the composition returning from the bottom to a temperature higher than the cloud point. The invention also concerns a system and a foaming composition based on water for implementing the method. The invention is useful for drilling and oil well completion operations requiring the use of a low-density fluid.

Abstract: In a drilling well, well completion, or well workover, the permeability of the walls is controlled by adding a predetermined amount of at least one hydrophobically modified guar gum derivative, e.g., a hydrophobically modified hydroxypropyl guar (HMPG), so as to reduce the amount of filtrate lost through the walls. The fluid may also include viscosifiers such as polymers or reactive clay.

Abstract: For controlling the dispersion of solids, e.g., cuttings, in water-based fluid used during operations such as drilling, completion or workover operations in a well crossing at least one permeable geologic formation, there is added to the fluid an optimized amount of a water soluble polymer HM PAM based on acrylamide and hydrophobic units. In a variant, a useful amount of hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative, e.g., modified hydroxyethylcellulose, HMHEC, is also added, thus forming a fluid containing HM PAM and HM HEC. The process has particular application to slim-hole and/or strongly deviated drilling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optimized lubricating composition including, in useful amount, an ester and a fatty acid, and optionally, the invention also relates to a well fluid including the lubricating composition according to the invention and the use of the composition for controlling the lubricity of a water-base fluid.

Abstract: A water-base fluid of optimized composition for solving problems encountered during operations such as drilling, completion or workover operations in a well crossing at least one permeable geologic formation contains (i) a hydrophilic/hydrophobic polymer, (ii) an acrylamide-base polymer of hydrophobic unit, (iii) a hydrophobically modified cellulose derivative, and (iv) a polysaccharide type polymer.The fluid can be used in a process implemented in a well drilled through at least one formation having a given permeability and is for particular application to slim-hole and/or deviated drilling.