Abstract: This invention relates to a low toxicity drilling mud oil. In some embodiments, the fluid loss characteristic of the drilling mud oil as used in a borehole can be reduced to less than 0.2 ml/30 minutes by adding about 0.05% to about 2.0% by weight of a butadiene-styrene-butadiene (BSB) block copolymer having about 20% by weight or more styrene.

Abstract: Stable and environmentally friendly suspensions of solid particulates are provided through the addition of such solid particulates to a suspension medium which is comprised of a liquid carrier, a liquid carrier soluble resin, an organophyllic clay, and an activator wherein said liquid carrier is a carboxylic acid ester, preferably 2-ethylhexyl oleate, said liquid carrier soluble resin is selected from the group consisting of styrene-isoprene copolymers, styrene ethylene-propylene block copolymers, styrene isobutylene copolymers, styrene butadiene copolymers, polybutylene, polystyrene, polyethylene-propylene copolymers, methyl methacrylate and mixtures thereof, said organophyllic clay is one of kaolinite, halloysite, vermiculite, chlorite, attapullgite, smectite, montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, and mixtures thereof and said activator is an alcohol of the formula ROH wherein R is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A gellable composition for oil field operations and a process for accelerating the gelation of the gellable composition for shut-in well are disclosed. The composition comprises: (1) an ammonium ion donor; (2) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; (3) a first crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (4) a second crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound and an alcohol where the aromatic compound is selected from the group consisting of phenols and acids; and (4) water.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity of a zinc compound-containing brine which can be used for workover and completion fluids in oil field operations is provided. The process comprises contacting the zinc compound-containing brine with a polymer which comprises repeating units derived from an unsaturated amide having the formula of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R--C(O)--NH.sub.2 and a vinylic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R'--SO.sub.3 M, CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH--R"--C(O)--N(H)--R"'--SO.sub.2 M, and mixtures thereof; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkali metal, and combinations thereof; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl radical having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A gellable composition for oil field operations and a process for accelerating the gelation of the gellable composition for shut-in well are disclosed. The composition comprises: (1) an ammonium ion donor; (2) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; (3) a first crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (4) a second crosslinking component selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound and an alcohol where the aromatic compound is selected from the group consisting of phenols and acids; and (4) water.