Abstract: Drilling fluids and processes for making drilling fluids for use in environmentally sensitive areas are provided. The environmentally friendly drilling fluid includes a linear olefin portion that includes linear alpha olefins and/or linear internal olefins with carbon numbers of about 6 carbons to about 30 carbons; and an oligomer portion comprising dimers, trimers, tetramers, and/or heavier oligomers of olefins, wherein the olefins have a carbon number of between about 4 carbons and about 24 carbons, and the oligomer portion includes at least about 50 mole percent of trisubstituted olefin. The drilling fluid has a pour point of about ?10° C. or lower, a biodegradation ratio of about 1.0 or less, a toxicity ratio of about 1.0 or less, a Marine Bodis of at least about 60%, a flash point of about 110° C. or higher, a viscosity less than about 4 cSt at 40° C., a density of about 0.78 to about 0.83 gram/ml, and a log Pow of greater than about 3.

Abstract: Drilling fluids and processes for making drilling fluids for use in environmentally sensitive areas are provided. The environmentally friendly drilling fluid includes a linear olefin portion that includes linear alpha olefins and/or linear internal olefins with carbon numbers of about 6 carbons to about 30 carbons; and an oligomer portion comprising dimers, trimers, tetramers, and/or heavier oligomers of olefins, wherein the olefins have a carbon number of between about 4 carbons and about 24 carbons, and the oligomer portion includes at least about 50 mole percent of trisubstituted olefin. The drilling fluid has a pour point of about ?10° C. or lower, a biodegradation ratio of about 1.0 or less, a toxicity ratio of about 1.0 or less, a Marine Bodis of at least about 60%, a flash point of about 110° C. or higher, a viscosity less than about 4 cSt at 40° C., a density of about 0.78 to about 0.83 gram/ml, and a log Pow of greater than about 3.