Abstract: The invention relates to a borehole treatment composition containing an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous oil phase, emulsifiers and, where appropriate, further customary additives, the non-aqueous oil phase containing at least one of a) paraffins having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms; and b) internal olefins having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms in the molecule; in the form of a blend with c) carboxylic esters of the formula R—COO—R?, where R stands for a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having from 15 to 25 carbon atoms and R? denotes a saturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms. The ratio of the toxicity of internal olefins of chain length C16/C18 (standard IO) to the toxicity of the constituents of the non-aqueous oil phase, in each case measured by the Leptocheirus plumulosus acute, static 96 hour/10 day sediment toxicity test (in accordance with ASTM E 1367-92 & EPA/600/R-94/025, Section 11), is less than 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of ethoxylated derivatives of amidoamines corresponding to general formula (I): R1—OC—NR2—[(CH2)n—NR3]m—CO—R4 ??(I) In which R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently of one another represent a hydrogen atom, a branched or unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group containing 5 to 23 carbon atoms or a CO—CH=CH—COOH group and n is a number of 1 to 6 and m is a number of 1 to 8, as an emulsifier in drilling fluids which contain at least one continuous oil phase, an aqueous phase and typical additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a borehole treatment composition containing an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous oil phase, emulsifiers and, where appropriate, further customary additives, the non-aqueous oil phase containing at least one of a) paraffins having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms; and b) internal olefins having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms in the molecule; in the form of a blend with c) carboxylic esters of the formula R—COO—R?, where R stands for a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having from 15 to 25 carbon atoms and R? denotes a saturated, linear or branched alkyl radical having from 3 to 22 carbon atoms. The ratio of the toxicity of internal olefins of chain length C16/C18 (standard IO) to the toxicity of the constituents of the non-aqueous oil phase, in each case measured by the Leptocheirus plumulosus acute, static 96 hour/10 day sediment toxicity test (in accordance with ASTM E 1367-92 & EPA/600/R-94/025, Section 11), is less than 1.

Abstract: Processes for producing polyester amides, by reacting a polyisobutylene with a first reagent selected from the group consisting of at least monounsaturated acids having from 3 to 21 carbon atoms and derivatives thereof; and a second reagent selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine and alkylamines of the general formula R—NH2, wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; are described. The polyester amides thus produced and their uses in stabilizing asphaltenes in crude oil and crude oil derivatives are also described.

Abstract: A process for imparting lubricity to an aqueous drilling fluid used in geological exploration involving: (a) providing an aqueous drilling fluid; (b) providing a lubricant component containing a partial glyceride of predominantly unsaturated fatty acids having from about 16 to 24 carbon atoms; and (c) introducing the partial glyceride into the aqueous drilling fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of linear and/or branched fatty alcohols containing at least 12 carbon atoms in the molecule and/or to the use of mixtures of such fatty alcohols with carboxylic acid esters as a lubricating additive in water-based drilling fluids for their use in geological exploration by drilling. The fatty-alcohol-based lubricants or lubricant systems are particularly suitable for use in water-based alkali metal silicate drilling muds which are known to be distinguished by comparatively high pH values. The additives according to the invention combine their lubricating effect with a foam-suppressing effect, i.e. prevent unwanted foaming.

Abstract: Processes for producing polyester amides, by reacting a polyisobutylene with a first reagent selected from the group consisting of at least monounsaturated acids having from 3 to 21 carbon atoms and derivatives thereof; and a second reagent selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine and alkylamines of the general formula R—NH2, wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; are described. The polyester amides thus produced and their uses in stabilizing asphaltenes in crude oil and crude oil derivatives are also described.

Abstract: The use is disclosed of at least substantially water-insoluble ethers which are fluid and/or at least plastically deformable at working temperature and have flash points of at least 80° C., of mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols of natural and/or synthetic origin or corresponding solutions of such ethers in ecologically acceptable water-insoluble oils as the dispersed oil phase of water-based O/W-emulsion drilling fluids which are suitable for the environmentally acceptable development of geological formations and which contain, if desired, insoluble, finely particulate weighting agents for the formation of water-based O/W-emulsion drilling muds and/or further additives, such as emulsifiers, fluid-loss additives, wetting agents, alkali reserves and/or auxiliary substances for the inhibition of drilled rock of high water-sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention relates to use of (a) compounds of phosphorus containing at least partly lipophilic organic radicals together with (b) urea and/or urea derivatives in selected quantity ratios of (a) to (b) as a soil additive for biologically controlling plant-parasitic soil nematodes by strengthening the correspondingly antagonistic soil potential, more particularly by strengthening the growth of antagonistic and/or nematicidal rhizosphere bacteria and/or corresponding mycorrhiza strains—and at the same time strengthening the growth of cultivated plants in soil. The multicomponent mixtures which strengthen bacterial growth are preferably introduced into the region of the plant roots in the form of an aqueous preparation using plant-compatible emulsifiers before and/or during plant growth. Components (a) and (b) are used in such quantity ratios that the ratio by weight of C to N is no higher than 6:1 and preferably no higher than 5:1.

Abstract: A low-foam wetting composition which, when mixed with water, enhances the penetration and spread of water on a plant, the composition containing: (a) an alkyl polyglycoside corresponding to formula I R—O—(G)x  (I) wherein R is a primary hydrocarbon radical having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, G is a glycose unit having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, and x is a number from 1 to 10; (b) an olefinically unsaturated alcohol; and (c) a lower water-soluble alcohol.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of (A) esters of phosphoric acid and/or partial salts thereof with alkoxylated aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic alcohols and/or (B) fatty acid oligo-dialkanolamides as inhibitors against the formation of incrustations based on organic solids from liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbon mixtures which are fluid and prone to form such incrustations. Preferred inhibitors having a surface-active character are capable of wetting, and especially of spreading on, solid work material surfaces also in the presence of the fluid hydrocarbon phase. They are particularly suitable as additives to crude oils and/or oil fractions susceptible of forming incrustations.

Abstract: The invention relates to multiphase lubricant concentrates with improved properties for use in aqueous fluids for geological exploration by drilling which contain organic lubricating components which are solid and/or liquid at room temperature (O phase) together with emulsifiers finely dispersed in a continuous aqueous phase (W phase). These concentrates are characterized in that the system of O phase/W phase and emulsifiers has a phase inversion temperature (PIT) above room temperature and has been produced by heating the multiphase system to temperatures equal to or above the PIT and subsequent cooling to temperatures below the PIT. The present invention also relates to the use of the multiphase lubricant concentrates as an additive in water-based fluids for use in geological exploration by drilling and for the subsequent treatment of the resulting boreholes.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of oil-soluble oleophilic organic liquid phases—flowable at temperatures of 0 to 10° C.—from the classes of corresponding monocarboxylic and/or polycarboxylic acid esters, carbonic acid esters, fatty alcohols and their oligoalkoxides and/or ethers as the at least predominant part of the liquid phase in storage-stable homogeneous mixtures with guar and/or water-soluble guar derivatives for their use in water-based borehole servicing fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for facilitating the disposal of flowable and pumpable working fluids based on emulsifiers containing W/O invert emulsions--more particularly corresponding auxiliaries of the type used in geological exploration, such as oil-based w/o invert drilling muds--and for the simplified cleaning of solid surfaces soiled therewith, if desired using flowable spraying aids, the process being characterized in that, by selecting and adapting the emulsifiers/emulsifier systems to the oil phase of the invert emulsion, temperature-controlled phase inversion is achieved at temperatures below the in-use temperatures of the w/o invert emulsions, but above the freezing point of the aqueous phase and in that disposal and cleaning are carried out at temperatures in and/or below the phase inversion temperature range.

Abstract: The invention relates to flowable and pumpable multicomponent mixtures based on a multiphase mixture of water and oil containing emulsifiers and, if desired, other soluble, emulsifiable and/or dispersible auxiliaries for their use in exploration by drilling and/or for the further treatment of the wells thus drilled. The invention is characterized by the use of emulsifiers or emulsifier systems which, in the particular multicomponent mixture in question, lead to temperature-controlled phase inversion at a phase inversion temperature (PIT) in a temperature range of which the upper limit is so far below the working temperature of the multicomponent mixture in geological exploration that the water-based part of the multicomponent mixture is present as a disperse (invert) phase in the continuous oil phase (w/o invert emulsion) while the lower limit of this temperature range enables the multicomponent mixture to be converted into an o/w emulsion with a continuous aqueous phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of at least predominantly linear hydrocarbon compounds olefinically unsaturated in the alpha-position with flashpoints of at least about 80.degree. as the oil phase or as part of the oil phase of oil- or water-based free-flowing borehole servicing preparations. Particular significance is attributed to corresponding drilling fluids which, together with the alpha-olefins, contain other oil phases from the field of borehole servicing preparations and are distinguished by ecological compatibility, being degradable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Suitable mixture components for the oil phase are, in particular, oleophilic alcohols, ethers and corresponding esters selected from carboxylic acid esters and/or carbonic acid esters.

Abstract: A method for the surface stabilization of sand and/or soil is provided. The method is comprised of applying an aqueous polymer dispersion to the surface layer of soil. The aqueous polymer dispersion is comprised of triesters of glycerol with lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, citric acid triesters with lower aliphatic monohydric alcohols and/or epoxidized triglycerides of at least partly olefinically unsaturated fatty acids as biodegradable plasticizers in aqueous polyvinyl acetate dispersions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of fatty acids or fatty alcohols--which are solid at room temperature and/or which cure in the presence of air--and/or at least substantially water-insoluble esters, ethers and/or salts thereof with, in particular, polyvalent cations as degradable and biologically safe stabilizers for increasing the water resistance of soil impregnations based on polyvinyl esters, more particularly PVAc.

Abstract: Additive composition enhancing the low temperature operability of average distillates beyond -20.degree. C. comprising at least 40% by weight of a composition consisting of: i) from 60 to 94% by weight of an antisedimentation additive resulting from the reaction of at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic compound and one polyamine of general formula (II) wherein R is a saturated aliphatic radical comprising from 1 to 32 carbon atoms, n is 2-4 and m is 1-4; and ii) 6-40 % by weight of a dispersing-stabilizing additive having a molecular weight varying from 15000 to 50000 resulting from the esterification reaction of a linear alcohol having from 6 to 24 atoms with an organic acid such as maleic acid and its halides, the ester obtained being polymerized with itself or a copolymerizing compound selected from aliphatic dicarboxylic compounds.

Abstract: Invert emulsion muds for drilling of gas and oil, which are environmentally safe, and which contain:A. a continuous oil phase composed predominantly of at least one monocarboxylic acid ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 monofunctional alkalol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 16 to 24 carbon atoms and is olefinically mono- or poly-unsaturated,B. a disperse aqueous phase,C. at least one emulsifier,D. at least one weighing agent,E. at least one fluid loss additive, andF. a mild alkaline reserve.