Abstract: A method for removing water from a wellbore fluid may include the steps of contacting a wellbore fluid with a water absorbing polymer, where the wellbore fluid includes an aqueous fluid, allowing the water absorbing polymer to interact with the wellbore fluid for a sufficient period of time so that the water absorbing polymer absorbs at least a portion of water in the aqueous fluid, and separating the water absorbing polymer containing the absorbed water from the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the method including pumping the drilling fluid to an electrophoresis unit that includes a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged electrode, applying a voltage between 200 V and 5000 V across the two electrodes to deposit water and solids on one of the charged electrodes, and removing deposited solids and water from the collection electrode is disclosed. An apparatus for treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the apparatus including a bath, a drum disposed in the bath, a power supply capable of applying a voltage between the housing and the drum in the range of 200 V to 5000 V, a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum at a predetermined speed, and a scraper having a first position in which the scraper contacts the rotating drum to remove deposited solids and water and a second position in which the scraper is retained away from the drum is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for removing water from a wellbore fluid is disclosed. The method may include the steps of contacting a wellbore fluid with a water absorbing polymer, where the wellbore fluid includes an aqueous fluid, allowing the water absorbing polymer to interact with the wellbore fluid for a sufficient period of time so that the water absorbing polymer absorbs at least a portion of water in the aqueous fluid, and separating the water absorbing polymer containing the absorbed water from the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the method including pumping the drilling fluid to an electrophoresis unit that includes a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged electrode, applying a voltage between 200 V and 5000 V across the two electrodes to deposit water and solids on one of the charged electrodes, and removing deposited solids and water from the collection electrode is disclosed. An apparatus for treating an invert emulsion drilling fluid, the apparatus including a bath, a drum disposed in the bath, a power supply capable of applying a voltage between the housing and the drum in the range of 200 V to 5000 V, a motor coupled to the drum to rotate the drum at a predetermined speed, and a scraper having a first position in which the scraper contacts the rotating drum to remove deposited solids and water and a second position in which the scraper is retained away from the drum is also disclosed.