Abstract: The invention concerns the use of mixed hydroxydes of bivalent and trivalent metals with a three-dimensional spaced-lattice structure of the garnet type to control the thixotropic thickening of aqueous preparations, using swellable clays and/or other swellable layer-silicate compounds of natural and/or synthetic origin as visosity-increasing agents. The preferred garnet-type mixed hydroxydes are catoites of the basic structure Ca.sub.3 Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.12 a minor proportion of whose OH units can be exchanged for acid groups, in particular silicate groups.

Abstract: Described is the use of oleophilic monomeric and/or oligomeric diesters of carbonic acid with the same or different oil-soluble and ecologically compatible mono-functional and optionally polyfunctional alcohols as a component of oil-based or water-based drilling fluids and other fluid drill-hole treatment agents. The invention in one embodiment comprises oil-based fluids, and particularly inverted fluids of the W/O type, which in the continuous phase at least in part contain oleophilic carbonic acid diesters. In a further important embodiment the invention relates to water-based emulsion fluids which in the dispersed oil phase at least in part contain said oleophilic carbonic acid diesters.

Abstract: Described is the use of oleophilic esters of ecologically compatible polycarboxylic acids with oil-soluble and ecologically compatible monofunctional alcohols and/or polyfunctional alcohols which may also be watersoluble as the oil phase or as a component of the oil phase of oil-based or water-based drilling fluids and other fluid drill-hole treatment agents. The oleophilic polycarboxylic acid esters are especially suitable as component of the continuous oil phase of inverted fluids of the W/O type. Here--if rheologically suitable compounds will be employed--they may comprise the at least predominant portion of the continuous oil phase; but also possible is the concomitant use of complex oleophilic polycarboxylic acid esters, which are not or just to a restricted degree fluid in a temperature range of from 0.degree. C. to 20.degree. C., as an additive in fluid oils of the class of the non-polluting oils.

Abstract: The invention describes the use of selected esters, fluid at room temperature and with flash points above 80.degree. C., from monocarboxylic acids of synthetic and/or natural origin with 6 to 11 carbon atoms and mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols as the oil phase or a component of the oil phase of invert drilling muds, which are suitable for environment-friendly development of petroleum and natural gas deposits and in a continuous oil phase contain a dispersed aqueous phase together with emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives and preferably further conventional additives. In a further embodiment the invention relates to invert-drilling fluids of the types mentioned, which are characterized in that the oil phase contains esters of monocarboxylic acids of synthetic and/or natural origin with 6 to 11 carbon atoms and with mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols preferably in admixture with other components from the class of ecologically acceptable compounds.

Abstract: The use is described ofa) mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols of natural and/or synthetic origin which are at least largely water-insoluble and are fluid and pumpable in the temperature range of 0.degree. to 5.degree. C.,or ofb) solutions, fluid and pumpable in the given temperature range, in ecologically-acceptable water-insoluble oils, of at least largely water-insoluble mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols of natural and/or synthetic origin,as the continuous oil phase of drilling fluids, which exist as W/O-emulsions, have a dispersed aqueous phase and preferably have further usual additives in the alcohol-containing oil phase, and which are suitable for the environment-friendly development of, e.g., petroleum and natural gas deposits.

Abstract: A process is described for rock consolidation, e.g. in tunnel construction and mining, by injection of aqueous preparations of melamine resin condensates and/or urea formaldehyde condensates together with an acid curing agent. The process is characterized by the use of aqueous solutions of hydrogen sulfate salts, especially solutions of alkali and/or ammonium bisulfates, as curing agents. The curing agent solutions can contain additional auxiliary agents and active substances such as corrosion inhibitors, structurizers and adhesion agents. Preferred resin solutions for consolidation with these aqueous curing agents contain added zeolite NaA and/or hydrosodalite for increasing their serviceability, and especially for prolonging their storage life.

Abstract: The invention describes the use of water-insoluble esters with flash points above 80.degree. C., from monohydric alcohols of natural and/or synthetic origin with at least 4 carbon atoms, preferably at least 6 carbon atoms in the alcohol radicals, as the oil phase, or a constituent of the oil phase of invert drilling fluids which exist as W/O-emulsions, have a dispersed aqueous phase and ideally also have further usual additives in the continuous oil phase, which is fluid and pumpable in the temperature range of 0.degree. to 5.degree. C., and which are suitable for the environment-friendly development of, e.g., petroleum and natural gas deposits. Drilling fluids of the above type are also described which are characterized in that they contain as the continuous oil phase, or dissolved in ecologically-acceptable water-insoluble oils, an additive of at least largely water-insoluble ethers from monohydric alcohols, the oil phase in each case being fluid and pumpable in the temperature range of 0.degree. to 5.

Abstract: The invention describes the use of selected esters, fluid at room temperature and with flash points above 80.degree. C., of C.sub.1-5 -monocarboxylic acids and mon- and/or polyfunctional alcohols as the oil phase, or a component of the oil phase of invert drilling muds which are suitable for environment-friendly development of petroleum or natural gas deposits and contain in a continuous oil phase a dispersed aqueous phase together with emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives and preferably further conventional additives. In a further embodiment the invention relates to invert drilling fluids of the type described, which are characterized in that the oil phase contains esters from C.sub.1-5 -monocarboxylic acids with mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols preferably in admixture with other components from the class of ecologically acceptable compounds.

Abstract: The use is disclosed of water-dispersible esters, which are fluid or at least plastically deformable at working temperature and have flash points of at least 80.degree. C., from saturated and/or unsaturated carboxylic acids with up to 36 carbon atoms and mono- and/or polyhydric alcohols, as at least the main constituent of the dispersed oil phase of water-based O/W-emulsion drilling fluids which are suitable for the environmentally friendly 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: In a first embodiment, the invention relates to the use of basic amine compounds of pronounced oleophilic character and at most limited solubility in water, which are capable of forming salts with carboxylic acids, as an additive for w/o invert drilling muds which contain in the continuous oil phase ester oils and, together with the disperse aqueous phase, emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid loss additives and, if desired, other additives for protecting the drilling muds against unwanted thickening in use or for improving their flowability. In another embodiment, the invention relates to w/o invert drilling muds which are suitable for the improved offshore development of oil and gas sources and which are characterized by the presence of basic amine compounds of pronounced oleophilic character which are capable of forming salts with carboxylic acids.

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 alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 12 to 16 carbon atoms and is aliphatically saturated,B. a disperse aqueous phase,C. at least one emulsifier,D. at least one weighting agent,E. at least one fluid loss additive, andF. a mild alkaline reserve.

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 alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 16 to 24 carbon atoms and is olefinically mono- or poly-unsaturated,B. a disperse aqeuous phase,C. at least one emulsifier,D. at least one weighting agent,E. at least one fluid loss additive, andF. a mild alkaline reserve.

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous preparations of acid-catalyzed melamine resins and/or urea-formaldehyde condensates which contain an addition of zeolite NaA and/or hydroxysodalite to increase their usefulness. The preparations in question are particularly suitable for use in the stabilization of rock and/or plugging of cavities, for example in tunneling and mining. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a process for stabilizing rock, for example in tunneling and mining, by injection of corresponding preparations together with an acidic catalyst.

Abstract: Substantially water-insoluble, oleophilic mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols of natural and/or synthetic origin which have flash points of at least 80.degree. C., or corresponding solutions of mono- and/or polyhydric alcohols in ecologically acceptable water-insoluble oils as the dispersed oil phase of water-based O/W-emulsion drilling fluids, which are suitable for an environmentally-acceptable development of geological formations and which, if desired, contain insoluble, finely particulate weighting agents for the formation of water-based O/W-emulsions 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 the use of methylesters of C.sub.6-24 monocarboxylic acids as the oil phase or as part of the oil phase of invert drilling muds which are suitable for the environment-friendly development of oil and gas sources and which, in a continuous oil phase, contain a disperse aqueous phase together with emulsifirs, weighting agents, fluid loss additives and, if desired, other standard additives. In another embodiment, the invention relates to invert drilling muds which are particularly suitable for the environment-friendly development of oil and gas sources and which are characterized in that the oil phase contains methylesters of C.sub.6-24 monocarboxylic acids, if desired in admixture with other oil components from the class of non-polluting oils.

Abstract: Drilling mud additives based on a polymer mixture of 20 to 80% by weight carboxymethyl cellulose and 80 to 20% by weight of a polycarboxylic acid selected from polyacrylate, polymethacrylate and/or copolymers thereof and/or salts thereof, in which the carboxymethyl cellulose, which has been obtained from raw linters and/or wood cellulose by the slurry process, is mixed in wet, alcohol-moist form with the polycarboxylic acid and dried, to their use in drilling muds or workover and packer liquids, and to a process for their production.

Abstract: Compositions free from mineral oil and used for freeing jammed drill pipes in drilling operations, and processes for using such compositions are disclosed. The compositions comprise a mixture of:(a) one or more fatty acid alkyl esters corresponding to the following general formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is a linear C.sub.7 -C.sub.23 alkyl, alkenyl or alkadienyl radical andR.sup.2 is a linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl or hydroxyalkylene radical,(b) one or more thickeners such as organophilic bentonites, and(c) one or more emulsifiers.Preferred emulsifiers include a mixture of an aminoamide or a polyamine and a fatty acid or calcium salt thereof. The composition may contain other conventional additives and is adapted to be formulated in the field by blending with water and/or weighting agents to achieve the proper thickness and density for use as a well spotting fluid.