Abstract: This invention relates to drilling fluid additives that suppress clay swelling within a subterranean well and to methods for controlling clay swelling during the drilling of a subterranean well. In one embodiment trihydroxy alkyl amine is reacted with an alkyl halide or a water soluble quaternary amine to form a quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amine. The reaction products can also include condensed reaction products of quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amines. In another embodiment a choline derivative is used. The quaternized reaction products and choline derivatives are characterized by low toxicity and compatibility with anionic drilling fluid components. The products are added to water base drilling fluids which are circulated throughout a well. The drilling fluid additives and the method of controlling clay swelling provide for improved control of the rheological properties of drilling fluids along with increased environmental and drilling fluid compatibility.

Abstract: This invention relates to drilling fluid additives that suppress clay swelling within a subterranean well and to methods for controlling clay swelling during the drilling of a subterranean well. In one embodiment trihydroxy alkyl amine is reacted with an alkyl halide or a water soluble quaternary amine to form a quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amine. The reaction products can also include condensed reaction products of quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amines. In another embodiment a choline derivative is used. The quaternized reaction products and choline derivatives are characterized by low toxicity and compatibility with anionic drilling fluid components. The products are added to water base drilling fluids which are circulated throughout a well. The drilling fluid additives and the method of controlling clay swelling provide for improved control of the rheological properties of drilling fluids along with increased environmental and drilling fluid compatibility.

Abstract: This invention relates to drilling fluid additives that suppress clay swelling within a subterranean well and to methods for controlling clay swelling during the drilling of a subterranean well. A trihydroxy alkyl amine is reacted with an alkyl halide or a water soluble quaternary amine to form a quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amine. The reaction products can also include condensed reaction products of quaternized trihydroxy alkyl amines. The quaternized reaction products are characterized by low toxicity and compatibility with anionic drilling fluid components. The products are added to water base drilling fluids which are circulated throughout a well. The drilling fluid additives and the method of controlling clay swelling provide for improved control of the rheological properties of drilling fluids along with increased environmental and drilling fluid compatibility.

Abstract: This invention relates to drilling fluid additives that suppress clay swelling within a subterranean well and to methods for controlling clay swelling during the drilling of a subterranean well. Aliphatic polyamines and aliphatic acids react to form polyamides and polyamino acids that are water soluble, that have molecular weights of less than about 1000, and that have low toxicity levels. The polyamides and polyamino acids are added to water base drilling fluids which are circulated throughout a well.When X in the acid is a hydroxyl group, the polyamide products have the following general structure: ##STR1## When X in the acid is a halogen such as chlorine, the polyamino acid products have the following general structure: ##STR2## The drilling fluid additives and the method of controlling clay swelling provide for improved control of the rheological properties of drilling fluids along with an increased environmental compatibility.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved aqueous based drilling fluid and specifically to a water soluble polymer that imparts desirable performance characteristics to the final drilling fluid. The invention also relates to the method for preparation of the polymer and drilling fluid. The water soluble polymer is especially useful in that it exhibits superior tolerance to divalent cations, salts, solids and elevated temperatures when added to aqueous drilling fluids. The polymer additive is characterized by increased viscosity at low shear rates and improved fluid loss control thereby exhibiting superior rheological and thixotropic properties. The polymer consists of reaction products of sulfonated monomers and monomers added to enhance the functional characteristics of the polymer.

Abstract: By the use of small amounts of novel amide resin reaction products of dibasic dimerized or trimerized fatty acids, an alkanolamine and a polyalkylene polyamine, improved drilling mud formulations are obtained. In those oil mud drilling formulations that contain organophilic clays, one is able to maximize the viscosity and gelation of the formulations, resulting in less preparation time and less material usage, especially the clay. In accordance with the invention, one is able to thicken or gel oil-mud systems at usual operating temperatures even when using low viscosity/low aromatic oils as the external phase, and to maximize the yield of organophilic clays readily in a short period of time, at low shear rates. The amide resin extends the utility of organophilic clays in low viscosity oil-mud systems. They produce more shear thinning fluids, higher yield points and quicker gel strengths while maintianing low plastic viscosities.