Abstract: A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has an alkoxylated alcohol having the general formula: X—O—(CnH2nO)y-(C2H4O)z—H wherein X is an organyl group having from 3 to 40 carbon atoms, n is 2, 3 or 4, y is 0 to 6, and z is 3-20, and an organophilic clay. The base liquid is an oleaginous liquid which is liquid at 25° C. and is substantially immiscible in water.

Abstract: A base fluid for formulating wellbore fluids. The base fluid comprises a mixture of synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbons derived from a Fischer-Tropsch product stream and contains greater than 96% aliphatic hydrocarbons having a carbon number range of from C6 to C30. The percentage of homologues having a carbon number of C10 or less is less than about 3 wt %.

Abstract: A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has glycerin carbonate and optionally an alkoxylated alcohol having the formula: wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aromatic radical having the structure: where R1 is a branched or linear alkyl having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms R2 is H or CH3 R3 is H or CH3 a is from 0 to 12 and b is from 1 to 12. The base liquid having greater than 20% naphthenics and about 10% to about 35% isoparaffins.

Abstract: A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has glycerin carbonate and optionally an alkoxylated alcohol having the formula: wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, or an aromatic radical having the structure: where R1 is a branched or linear alkyl having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms R2 is H or CH3 R3 is H or CH3 a is from 0 to 12 and b is from 1 to 12. The base liquid having greater than 20% naphthenics and about 10% to about 35% isoparaffins.

Abstract: A composition for viscosifying a nonaqueous base liquid. The composition has an alkoxylated alcohol having the general formula: X—O—(CnH2nO)y-(C2H4O)z—H wherein X is an organyl group having from 3 to 40 carbon atoms, n is 2, 3 or 4, y is 0 to 6, and z is 3-20, and an organophilic clay. The base liquid is an oleaginous liquid which is liquid at 25° C. and is substantially immiscible in water.

Abstract: A base fluid for formulating wellbore fluids. The base fluid comprises a mixture of synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbons derived from a Fischer-Tropsch product stream and contains greater than 96% aliphatic hydrocarbons having a carbon number range of from C6 to C30. The percentage of homologues having a carbon number of C10 or less is less than about 3 wt %.

Abstract: The invention discloses a compounded hydrocarbon oil which comprises a base hydrocarbon oil, preferably a mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons, propylene carbonate, and a liquid fatty acid containing at least 12 carbon atoms per molecule, preferably tall oil fatty acid. The volume ratio of propylene carbonate to liquid fatty acid is from about 3.5 to 1 to about 7 to 1. Preferably the concentration of propylene carbonate is from about 0.002 gal/gal oil to about 0.0057 gal/gal oil and the concentration of the liquid fatty acid is from about 0.0003 gal/gal oil to about 0.0015 gal/gal oil. The invention further comprises a method of compounding the compounded hydrocarbon oil and an oil base drilling fluid prepared from the compounded hydrocarbon oil. Preferably the compounded hydrocarbon oil is characterized by an increase in the low shear rate viscosity of the oil of at least 5,000 centipoise or mixing 7.5 lb/bbl of an organoclay therein.

Abstract: The invention provides well drilling and servicing fluids, and methods of drilling, completing, or working over a well therewith, preferred fluids comprise an aqueous liquid, a water soluble polymer viscosifier (preferably xanthan gum), a polymeric fluid loss control additive (preferably a partially depolymerized partially crosslinked hydroxyalkyl ether derivative of starch or a hydroxyalkyl ether derivative of a partially crosslinked and partially depolymerized starch), a bridging agent comprising a particulate calcined magnesia that has an Activity Index greater than about 800 seconds, and an additive selected from the group consisting of citric acid, alkali metal salts of citric acid, ammonium citrate, and mixtures thereof in an amount sufficient to increase the low shear rate viscosity of the fluids, preferably from about 0.05–5 ppb, most preferably from about 0.15–3 ppb.

Abstract: The invention provides well drilling and servicing fluids, and methods of drilling, completing, or working over a well therewith, preferred fluids comprise an aqueous liquid, a water soluble polymer viscosifier (preferably xanthan gum), a polymeric fluid loss control additive (preferably a partially depolymerized partially crosslinked hydroxyalkyl ether derivative of starch or a hydroxyalkyl ether derivative of a partially crosslinked and partially depolymerized starch), a bridging agent comprising a particulate calcined magnesia that has an Activity Index greater than about 800 seconds, and citric acid in an amount sufficient to increase the low shear rate viscosity of the fluids. The invention further provides a method of increasing the low shear rate viscosity of fluids which contain a water soluble polymer and a calcined magnesia bridging agent which has an Activity Index greater than about 800 seconds.

Abstract: An improved process for vaporizing a crude petroleum feedstock, preferably one boiling in the vacuum gas oil range or higher, prior to thermal cracking to olefins, wherein such feedstock is preheated, in one or more stages, in the convection section of a tubular steam cracking furnace, characterized by conducting the preheating in the presence of a small amount of hydrogen, preferably at a hydrogen/feed ratio of from about 0.01 to about 0.15 wt. %, so as to inhibit coke formation.

Abstract: A packed bed gas-liquid contactor wherein the liquid distributor is positioned within and supported by the packed bed, with the portion of the packed bed above the liquid distributor being blocked by an imperforate structure and the remaining portion including non-process packing, whereby gas flows from the process packing through a limited portion of the upper part of the packed bed, defined by the non-process packing to the gas outlet. In this manner, the residence time of the gas in the upper portion of the bed is limited.