Abstract: The hydration of clays and shale in drilling operations may be inhibited by employing an aqueous based drilling fluid comprising a shale hydration inhibition agent comprising a polyaminopolyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, preferably the polyamino polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin is a reaction product of an aliphatic polyamine, an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid, and epichlorohydrin. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in the aqueous based drilling fluid in sufficient concentration to reduce the reactivity, such as swelling, of clays and shale when exposed to water-based drilling fluids.

Abstract: An elongated non-metal, non corrosive compressor mounting base plate structure including: (I) a base plate (40) segment having a top surface and a bottom surface, said base plate segment further comprising four vertical sidewalls (54) disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the base plate and integral with the base plate segment, one vertical sidewall disposed on each of the four sides of the base plate segment and along the perimeter of the top surface of the base plate segment forming a base plate tray member; wherein the base plate segment is adapted for receiving a compressor on the top surface of the base plate segment within the area of the base plate segment surrounded by the four vertical sidewalls; (II) a means (56) for receiving and removably affixing a compressor to the top surface of the base plate segment; and (III) a reinforcement means integral with said base plate segment; wherein said reinforcement means includes at least two elongated transverse reinforcement segments integral with