Abstract: A slurry composition comprising: a base oil; a nonionic surfactant; a hydrophilic polymer; and a mixed branched alkyl organoclay composition comprising: a phyllosilicate clay; and a mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, each ion having a formula of [N—R1R2R3R4]+ wherein, within such mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, one or more of R1, R2 and R3 is each a mixture of branched alkyl groups, each branched alkyl group having 12 to 22 total carbon atoms, a linear backbone and one or more C1 to C3 branching alkyl groups each attached to the linear backbone at a branching carbon position, and within each quaternary ammonium ion and within the mixture of branched alkyl groups, the C1 to C3 branching alkyl groups are linked to the linear backbones at different branching carbon positions as a distribution; and wherein when one or more of R2 and R3 is not a branched alkyl group, R2 and R3 are a first linear alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of a second linear alky

Abstract: A slurry composition comprising: a base oil; a nonionic surfactant; a hydrophilic polymer; and a mixed branched alkyl organoclay composition comprising: a phyllosilicate clay; and a mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, each ion having a formula of [N—R1R2R3R4]+ wherein, within such mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, one or more of R1, R2 and R3 is each a mixture of branched alkyl groups, each branched alkyl group having 12 to 22 total carbon atoms, a linear backbone and one or more C1 to C3 branching alkyl groups each attached to the linear backbone at a branching carbon position, and within each quaternary ammonium ion and within the mixture of branched alkyl groups, the C1 to C3 branching alkyl groups are linked to the linear backbones at different branching carbon positions as a distribution; and wherein when one or more of R2 and R3 is not a branched alkyl group, R2 and R3 are a first linear alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein R4 is selected from the group consisting of a second linear alky

Abstract: An oil-based drilling fluid and a method for maintaining viscosity of an oil-based drilling fluid over a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 40° F. The oil-based drilling fluid comprises a quaternary ammonium ion having a corresponding quaternary ammonium salt having a neat shear strength value less than 6000 lb/100 ft2. The organoclay drilling fluid additive imparts a first high shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures of 40° F. or less and imparts a second high shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures greater than or equal to 120°, wherein the difference between the first high shear viscosity and the second high shear viscosity is less than 110%. The organoclay drilling fluid additive, further imparts a first low shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures of 40° F. or less and imparts a second low shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures greater than or equal to 120° F.

Abstract: An oil-based drilling fluid and a method for maintaining viscosity of an oil-based drilling fluid over a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 40° F. The oil-based drilling fluid comprises a quaternary ammonium ion having a corresponding quaternary ammonium salt having a neat shear strength value less than 6000 lb/100 ft2. The organoclay drilling fluid additive imparts a first high shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures of 40° F. or less and imparts a second high shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures greater than or equal to 120°, wherein the difference between the first high shear viscosity and the second high shear viscosity is less than 110%. The organoclay drilling fluid additive, further imparts a first low shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures of 40° F. or less and imparts a second low shear viscosity to the oil-based drilling fluid at temperatures greater than or equal to 120° F.