Abstract: An alpha alumina monohydrate, AlO(OH), powder is produced which is capable of readily dispersing in aqueous solutions to yield a shear-rate thinning mixture. The alpha alumina monohydrate is made by reacting an acid reactant and a base reactant, wherein at least one contains aluminum, in an aqueous medium in proportions to yield a solution having a pH of from about 7.5 to 10. Then the mixture is given the unique heat treatment at a temperature of from about 60.degree. to 100.degree. C. for a period of from about 2 to 7 hours. The excess water is removed from the product such as by filtration. The solid can be optionally washed to remove by-product salts. The solid product can be readily redispersed in water to yield a shear-rate thinning liquid without the aid of any further acid or base or the use of excessive high shear mixing. The solid product can be further dried to recover a solid product with greater than 10% AlO(OH) and even greater than 35% AlO(OH).

Abstract: An alpha alumina monohydrate, AlO(OH), gel is produced which is capable of readily dispersing in aqueous solutions to yield a shear-rate thinning mixture. The alpha alumina monohydrate is made by reacting an acid reactant and a base reactant, wherein at least one contains aluminum, in an aqueous medium in proportions to yield a mixture having a pH of from about 7.5 to 10. The gel is treated to remove much of the by-product salts. One preferred method involves filtering the reaction product to remove the by-product salts and then further washing the filter cake with water. Upon dispersing the filter cake in water it yields a shear-rate thinning liquid having increased viscosifying power per unit weight of the AlO(OH) and this is measured as a higher K value in the rheological power model.

Abstract: Aqueous drilling fluids containing a hydroxy containing alumina component such as AlO(OH) and a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reaction product such as an aldehyde reacted PVA are stabilized for use at temperatures as high as 350.degree. F. (177.degree. C.) by adding stabilizer anions such as sulfate, tartrate and citrate to the resulting drilling fluid. The anions can be added as an acid or in the salt form with sodium and potassium salts being preferred. The salts are preferably added in 0.2 to 10% by weight of the drilling fluid. These stabilized drilling fluids can also be used in seawater.

Abstract: An aqueous completion or workover fluid for oil or gas wells having at least two solid components. One component is a hydroxy containing aluminum compound represented by the formula AlO(OH).xH.sub.2 O. The second component is a fluid loss control agent which can be either a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol or a cross-linked hydroxyalkyl cellulose reaction product. An acid soluble weighting agent can be added for wells having higher down hole pressures. Examples of the weighting agents include iron carbonates, iron oxides, calcium carbonates, dolomite, sodium or calcium chloride, zinc bromide and calcium bromide. After use, the fluid can be displaced from the well with acid, e.g. 15% HCl, and the cake previously deposited on the bore-hole wall is dissolved by the acid so that no damaging residue remains.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high temperature stable composition capable of imparting a combination of pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is a combination of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component(b) a chemical compound capable of converting to a higher oxidation state under alkaline conditions; and(c) a reaction product of a polymeric substance selected from polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl cellulose reacted with at least 0.1 percent of stoichiometry of a cross-linking agent selected from an epihalohydrin or an aldehyde containing or generating agent;wherein the amount of component (a) is at least 10 wt. percent of component (c) and component (b) is at least 20 wt. percent of component (c).The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is an admixture of:(a) a solid particulate material having a particle size distribution wherein at least about 90% of said material is capable of passing through a No. 20 U.S. Standard (Fine Series) Sieve; and(b) a cross-linked hydroxyalkyl cellulose;wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the weight ratio of at least about 0.5.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high temperature stable composition capable of imparting fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is a combination of:(a) a solid, particulate silicate or alumino-silicate material;(b) a chemical compound capable of converting to a higher oxidation state under alkaline conditions; and(c) a reaction product of a polymeric substance selected from polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl cellulose reacted with at least about 0.1 percent of stoichiometry of a cross-linking agent selected from an epihalohydrin or an aldehyde containing or generating agent;wherein the amount of component (a) is at least 50 wt. percent of component (c) and component (b) is at least 20 wt. percent of component (c).The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting a combination of pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is an admixture of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component and(b) a cross-linked hydroxyalkyl cellulose reaction product; wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the weight ratio capable of directly forming an aqueous system having from about 0.5 to 10 weight percent of component (a) and from about 0.3 to 5 weight percent of component (b) based on the weight of the water of the system.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: The combination of AlO(OH) and crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol can be added to aqueous drilling fluids and especially clay-based aqueous drilling fluids to prevent formation clays and shales from swelling and dispersing when contacted with aqueous drilling fluids. A potassium salt can be added to improve the result. The potassium salt can also be added by making AlO(OH) from potassium aluminate.

Abstract: An aqueous aluminum hydroxide is produced by reacting an acid and a base reactant, where at least one reactant has aluminum, in the presence of a hydroxy acid or a salt of this hydroxy acid. The resulting product has unwanted tri-hydrate formation inhibited as well as a reduced amount of boehmite crystallization. The product can be used as a viscosifier in aqueous drilling fluids.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is formed from a combination of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component and(b) a reaction product of a polyaldehyde and a polyvinyl alcohol, said polyaldehyde present in from 0.01 to 0.1 percent of stoichiometry;wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the weight ratio capable of directly forming, when mixed with sufficient water, an aqueous system having from about 0.5 to 10 weight percent of component (a) and from about 0.3 to 5 weight percent of component (b) based on the weight of the water of the system.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: A process for forming polymeric particles from water-soluble polymers by introducing the polymer into an aqueous salt solution in which the salt is of a composition and present in an amount sufficient to inhibit solubilization of the polymer therein and subsequently introducing into the aqueous medium a multifunctional reagent and mixing said aqueous medium for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause reaction between the polymer and the reagent. The resultant solid polymer is readily recovered.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high temperature stable composition capable of imparting a combination of pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is a combination of:(a) a solid, particulate silicate or alumino-silicate material;(b) a chemical compound capable of converting to a higher oxidation state under alkaline conditions; and(c) a reaction product of a polymeric substance selected from polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl cellulose reacted with at least 1 percent of stoichiometry of a cross-linking agent selected from an epihalohydrin or an aldehyde containing or generating agent;wherein the amount of component (a) is at least 75 wt. percent of component (c) and component (b) is at least 25 wt. percent of component (c).The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high temperature stable composition capable of imparting a combination of pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is a combination of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component(b) a chemical compound capable of converting to a higher oxidation state under alkaline conditions; and(c) a reaction product of a polymeric substance selected from polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyalkyl cellulose reacted with at least 1 percent of stoichiometry of a cross-linking agent selected from an epihalohydrin or an aldehyde containing or generating agent;wherein the amount of component (a) is at least 75 wt. percent of component (c) and component (b) is at least 25 wt. percent of component (c).The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting a combination of pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is an admixture of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component and(b) a cross-linked hydroxyalkyl cellulose reaction product; wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the weight ratio of at least about 0.75:1.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is an admixture of:(a) a solid particulate material having a particle size distribution wherein at least about 90% of said material is capable of passing through a No. 20 U.S. Standard (Fine Series) Sieve; and(b) a cross-linked hydroxyalkyl cellulose;wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the weight ratio of at least about 0.5.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composition capable of imparting improved fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is formed from a combination of:(a) a solid, particulate silicate or alumino-silicate material;(b) a reaction production formed from a polyvinyl alcohol and at least 1 percent of stoichiometry of an aldehyde containing or generating agent; wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the ratio of at least about 0.75:1.Further, the invention is directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved drilling fluid.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is formed from a combination of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component and(b) a reaction product of a polyvinyl alcohol and at least 1 percent of stoichiometry of an aldehyde containing or generating agent; wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the ratio of at least about 0.75:1.The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.

Abstract: Silane modified inorganic reaction products, aqueous-based compositions containing said reaction products, a drilling fluid containing said composition and a method of drilling bore holes using said drilling fluid, wherein the silane-modified inorganic composition comprises a reaction product of magnesium hydroxide with from about 0.005 mole to about 0.3 mole per mole of hydroxide of an organo silane represented by the general formulaR.sub.x SiR'.sub.4-xwherein R represents a C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbon radical, R' represents an alkoxy or halo radical and x is an integer of 1 to 3; the reaction product formed in an aqueous medium and under a high degree of agitation.

Abstract: A composition capable of imparting pseudoplasticity and fluid loss control properties to aqueous systems. The composition is formed from a combination of:(a) a hydroxy containing aluminum component and(b) a reaction product of a polyvinyl alcohol and at least 1 percent of stoichiometry of an aldehyde containing or generating agent.[.; wherein the amount of component (a) to component (b) is in the ratio of at least about 0.75:1.]..The invention is further directed to improved drilling fluids containing said composition and to the process of drilling bore holes using said improved fluid.