Abstract: Methods of forming chemical casings include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid having a pH in the range of from about 6 to 10 and comprising water, a water soluble or water dispersible polymer which is capable of being cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causing the resin to be hard and tough when cured, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin, a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin, and a delayed dispersible acid-catalyst for curing the solid thermoset resin and the water soluble thermoset resin, whereby the drilling fluid forms a filter cake on the walls of the wellbore that cures into a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing thereon.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating formations include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid that comprises water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on minerals and rocks in weak unconsolidated zones or formations and then further contacting the unconsolidated formation with a treating fluid comprising a water soluble or dispersible polymer which is cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causes the resin to be hard and tough when cured, and a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin which cross-links the polymer, is catalyzed and cured by the catalyst and consolidates the weak zone or formation so that sloughing is prevented.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating unconsolidated weak zones or formations and forming chemical casings include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid having a pH in the range of from about 6 to 10 and that comprises water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on the mineral surfaces in the weak zone, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin and a delay acid catalyst for curing the solid resin, and forming a filter cake on the walls of the well bore. The filter cake is then contacted with a treating fluid comprising a water soluble or water dispersible polymer which is capable of being cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causing the resin to be hard and tough when cured, and a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin, whereby the treating fluid components deposit on the filter cake and the thermoset resin cures into a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing thereon.

Abstract: Methods of forming chemical casings include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid having a pH in the range of from about 6 to 10 and comprising water, a water soluble or water dispersible polymer which is capable of being cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causing the resin to be hard and tough when cured, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin, a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin, and a delayed dispersible acid-catalyst for curing the solid thermoset resin and the water soluble thermoset resin, whereby the drilling fluid forms a filter cake on the walls of the wellbore that cures into a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing thereon.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating formations include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid that comprises water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on minerals and rocks in weak unconsolidated zones or formations and then further contacting the unconsolidated formation with a treating fluid comprising a water soluble or dispersible polymer which is cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causes the resin to be hard and tough when cured, and a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin which cross-links the polymer, is catalyzed and cured by the catalyst and consolidates the weak zone or formation so that sloughing is prevented.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating unconsolidated weak zones or formations and forming chemical casings include drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid having a pH in the range of from about 6 to 10 and that comprises water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on the mineral surfaces in the weak zone, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin and a delay acid catalyst for curing the solid resin, and forming a filter cake on the walls of the well bore. The filter cake is then contacted with a treating fluid comprising a water soluble or water dispersible polymer which is capable of being crosslinked by a thermoset resin and causing the resin to be hard and tough when cured, and a water soluble or dispersible thermoset resin, whereby the treating fluid components deposit on the filter cake and the thermoset resin cures into a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing thereon.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating formations or forming chemical casing or both while drilling are provided. One method of the invention comprises drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid comprised of water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on weak zones or formations formed of unconsolidated clays, shale, sand stone and the like, a water soluble or dispersible polymer which is cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causes the resin to be hard and tough when cured, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin, a water soluble thermoset resin, and a delayed dispersible acid catalyst for curing the solid and water soluble resins. The drilling fluid forms a filter cake on the walls of the well bore that cures and consolidates the unconsolidated weak zones and formations penetrated by the well bore so that sloughing is prevented and forms a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing on the walls of the well bore.

Abstract: Methods of consolidating formations or forming chemical casing or both while drilling are provided. One method of the invention comprises drilling a well bore with a drilling fluid comprised of water, a polymeric cationic catalyst which is adsorbed on weak zones or formations formed of unconsolidated clays, shale, sand stone and the like, a water soluble or dispersible polymer which is cross-linked by a thermoset resin and causes the resin to be hard and tough when cured, a particulate curable solid thermoset resin, a water soluble thermoset resin, and a delayed dispersible acid catalyst for curing the solid and water soluble resins. The drilling fluid forms a filter cake on the walls of the well bore that cures and consolidates the unconsolidated weak zones and formations penetrated by the well bore so that sloughing is prevented and forms a hard and tough cross-linked chemical casing on the walls of the well bore.