Abstract: The use of a water external micellar dispersion as a drilling fluid for rotary and horizontal drilling operations wherein the drilling fluid contains more than 50% oil in the internal phase, improved high temperature stability, high yield points, low gel strengths, and ultra low fluid loss.

Abstract: Solid, waxy 1-olefins may be converted to low viscosity liquid products by carrying out a double bond isomerization in the presence of a solid acidic catalyst such as an acidic clay or a zeolite under mild conditions. The olefin isomer products are useful in the formulation of well fluids such as drilling muds, especially useful in offshore drilling. The preferred oils for making up the well fluids are formulated with a hydrocarbon oil blend of the low viscosity olefin isomer together with a C.sub.12 to C.sub.18 paraffinic hydrocarbon of petroleum origin and a C.sub.10 to C.sub.32 olefin such as tetradecene-1. The fluids exhibit good biodegradability and are non-toxic to marine organisms; they also meet viscosity and pour points specifications for formulation into oil based muds.

Abstract: This invention concerns a corrosion-inhibitor nominally comprised of a phenolic compound and a hydroxide-bearing compound capable of imparting a pH of 9 to water, the inclusion thereof in aerated water-based fluids and foams, and the use of these fluids in wellbore applications; particularly applications conducted at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A non-toxic, inexpensive synthetic fluid for use in wellbore fluids (e.g., drilling fluids) is selected from the group consisting of (A) fluids having (I) a pour point greater than about -30.degree. C. (-22.degree. F.) and (II) a cetane index greater than 50, and comprising (i) at least about 95 weight percent hydrocarbons containing 11 or more carbon atoms, (ii) greater than 5 weight percent hydrocarbons containing 18 or more carbon atoms, (iii) at least about 50 weight percent isoparaffins, (iv) at least about 80 weight percent total paraffins, (v) less than 10 weight percent naphthenics, (vi) less than 0.1 weight percent aromatics, and (vii) at least 2 hydrocarbons containing a consecutive number of carbon atoms, and (B) fluids comprising (i) at least about 95 weight percent hydrocarbons containing 10 or more carbon atoms and (ii) at least about 90 weight percent n-paraffins.

Abstract: There is disclosed a biodegradable wellbore fluid having a continuous oil phase comprising an n-alk-1-ene having from 12 to 20 carbon atoms or a linear polyunsaturated olefin having one of the double bonds in the 1-position and having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A novel fracturing fluid composition comprising:(1) a carboxyalkyl derivatized polygalactomannan having a degree of substitution of between about 0.01 and about 3.0;(2) a zirconium salt crosslinking agent;(3) one or more thermal stabilizing agents;(4) one or more pH buffers; and(5) water;wherein said fluid is capable of maintaining at least 10 percent of its original cross-linked viscosity after three hours at a temperature greater to or equal to 250.degree. F. is provided.

Abstract: An environmentally acceptable, thermally insulating annular fluid comprised of a liquid which is non-aqueous, non-corrosive, and thermally insulating, a clay gellant, and a clay dispersant. A preferred packer fluid includes an ester originated from a vegetable or animal oil as at least a major portion of the liquid phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides non-toxic, biodegradable olefin isomers which may be used as lubricants, rate of penetration enhancers, and/or spotting fluids for water-based drilling muds. When used as a spotting fluid additive, the olefin isomers preferably are supplemented with functional additives, namely emulsifiers, viscosifiers, surfactants, and/or brine. When used as lubricants and/or rate of penetration enhancers, the olefin isomers preferably are used alone or in combination with surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic hydrocarbon as the continuous phase of a drilling fluid. These hydrocarbons comprise mostly linear olefins, preferably C.sub.14 to C.sub.18 olefins.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon base drilling fluids which are selectively convertible to cementitious compositions that set into hard substantially impermeable masses and methods of using such drilling fluids are provided. The drilling fluids are basically comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid having particulate hydraulic cement suspended therein. The drilling fluids are converted to cementitious compositions by admixing water and a surfactant therewith.

Abstract: An environmentally friendly invert drilling fluid comprises a water-in-oil emulsion which includes (a) at least 50 volume percent of a low toxicity base oil, and (b) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, viscosifiers, weighing agents, oil wetting agents and fluid loss preventing agents, at least about 25 weight percent of the base oil content of the drilling fluid being a mixture of a linear alkane combined with a branched chain alkane, the alkanes individually having from about 14 to about 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention concerns a corrosion-inhibitor nominally comprised of a phenolic compound and a hydroxide-bearing compound capable of imparting a pH of 9 to water, the inclusion thereof in aerated water-based fluids and foams, and the use of these fluids in wellbore applications; particularly applications conducted at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A drilling fluid comprises a continuous phase of diesel oil, mineral oil, ester, mono-ether, di-ether, poly-alpha-olefin, detergent alkylate, terpene and mixtures thereof. Water is added to make an inverted emulsion. In the non-terpene based drilling fluids, terpene or terpenes is added in the amount of 1-80% by volume to increase the penetration rate and provide other advantages, such as rapid biodegradability. The terpene may be of the unsaturated type or the saturated type.

Abstract: A water based drilling fluid comprises 1-8% of an additive comprising saturated terpene, a mixture of saturated terpenes or a mixture of saturated and unsaturated terpenes. The drilling fluid is substantially non-toxic and has an LC-50 greater than 30,000 ppm and preferably greater than 100,000 ppm. The most economic additives are a mixture of saturated and unsaturated terpenes and have at least 30% saturated terpenes. The drilling fluid has the advantage of low toxicity over unsaturated terpene drilling fluids.

Abstract: Aqueous drilling muds are disclosed which contain, as fluidifier agent, one or more complexes, which may be either pre-formed or produced in situ, selected from:tetravalent zirconium and one or more organic acids, or their salts, having the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different from each other, represent --H, --COOH, --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 COOH, --CH(OH)COOH;aluminum citrate.

Abstract: A method of using an organic, oil-based pressurized medium derived from natural biological metabolism for the percussion device in a drilling device of a drilling apparatus having a drilling bit at its one end for drilling a hole in the ground comprises: a) causing the organic oil-based pressurized medium derived from natural biological metabolism to flow in the drilling hole through at least the drilling device and possibly one or several drill rods, when joined to the drilling device for increasing the drilling depth of the drilling device, b) driving the percussion device for generating the percussion movement by the organic oil-based pressurized medium derived from natural biological metabolism supplied through a first flow channel provided in the drilling device and the drill rod, c) removing drilling waste generated by the drilling bit at the end of the drilling device by a scavenging agent supplied through a second flow channel provided in connection with the drilling device and the drill rod, and d) s

Abstract: Well fluids such as drilling muds, especially useful in offshore drilling, are formulated with a hydrocarbon oil blend of a low viscosity poly alpha-olefin (PAO) such as a low molecular weight oligomer of decene together with a C.sub.10 to C.sub.18 paraffinic hydrocarbon of petroleum origin and a C.sub.10 to C.sub.18 olefin such as dodecene-1 or tetradecene-1. The fluids exhibit good biodegradability and are non-toxic to marine organisms; they also meet viscosity and pour points specifications for formulation into oil based muds.

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: An environmentally friendly invert drilling fluid comprises a water-in-oil emulsion which includes (a) at least 50 volume percent of a low toxicity base oil, and (b) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, viscosifiers, weighting agents, oil wetting agents and fluid loss preventing agents, at least about 25 volume percent of the base oil content of the drilling fluid being one or more linear alpha-olefins which have from about 14 to 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dry, fine particle size hydraulic cement composition, which is directly dispersable in both water and a hydrocarbon liquid and to the use of said composition in oil well cementing operations and methods of terminating water flow in subterranean hydrocarbon producing formations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising a mixture of a brine and a liquid hydrocarbon, and (A) an emulsifying amount of (i) at least one reaction product of a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acylating agent, and at least one of (a) ammonia, (b) an alcohol, or (c) an amine, or at least one salt of the reaction product; or (ii) at least one reaction product of a hydroxyaromatic compound, an aldehyde, and an amine, and (B) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene amine, a polyoxyalkylene amide, a polyoxyalkylene alcohol, a polyoxyalkylene phenol, a polyoxyalkylene ester, a fatty acid salt, an amine or an alkaline earth or transition metal sulfonate, or a reaction product of a hydroxyamine or a polyalkylenepolyamine with an acylating agent selected from the group consisting of a fatty monocarboxylic acylating agents, a dicarboxylic acylating agent other than a succinic acylating agent, and a tricarboxylic acylating agent.

Abstract: A nontoxic, nonchloride, water-base drilling fluid which stabilizes water sensitive shales is disclosed. This drilling fluid is comprised of the potassium or ammonium salt of an organic acid in combination with a polar organic liquid, so as to reduce shale swelling with mineral adverse impact on the environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved continuous phase for an oil based drilling fluid and specifically a synthetic hydrocarbon continuous phase which is non-polluting and minimally toxic. The invention provides excellent drilling fluid properties under a wide variety of drilling conditions. The synthetic hydrocarbons are selected from the group consisting of branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C.sub.2 to C.sub.14 chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 120 to 1000. In the drilling fluid compositions, suitable emulsifiers, wetting agents, viscosifiers, weight materials and fluid loss additives are utilized in conjunction with water and/or a brine phase for the desired rheological properties.

Abstract: A non-toxic drilling fluid (drilling mud), for use in rotary-type well-drilling operations, comprises a non-toxic base-oil consisting essentially of branched-chain paraffins which may or may not contain ester functionalities, the base-oil having: (i) between about 16 and about 40 atoms per molecule, (ii) a kinematic viscosity, at 40.degree. C., of between about 1 and about 16.5 centistokes; (iii) a flash point of at least about 90.degree. C.; and (iv) a pour point of less than about -40.degree. C. Preferably, the branched-chain paraffin used as the base-oil consists essentially of the dimer of 1-decene, which has a viscosity of about 5 centistokes at 40.degree. C. and which has 20 carbon atoms per molecule. The drilling fluid can be about 100 percent base-oil or can be an emulsion of the base-oil in water, in which case the amount of base-oil is at least about 30 volume percent, and is more preferably between about 65 and about 95 volume percent.

Abstract: Novel compositions useful as fluid gelling agents, especially for use in subterranean applications such as drilling fluids, are prepared by reacting an aqueous dispersion of a clay, such as bentonite, with an aqueous gel of a monodispersed mixed metal layered hydroxide of the formula Li.sub.m D.sub.d T(OH).sub.(m+2d+3+na) A.sub.J.sup.n where D is a divalent metal, such as Mg, T is a trivalent metal, such as Al, and A represents other monovalent or polyvalent anions, the formula being described in detail in the disclosure.

Abstract: A drilling fluid includes water, bentonite, a weighting agent, and an additive comprising a water-soluble polycondensate containing phosphorous and nitrogen such as phosphorylated-urea-formaldehyde or phosphorylated-melamine-formaldehyde. Such additives provide the desired rheological and filtration loss properties as well as thermal and shear stability. The additives are prepared by reacting phosphorous acid, urea and formaldehyde according to a Mannich-type reaction.

Abstract: A cement method and composition for cementing a well penetrating subterranean formations and aqueous based drilling fluid containing at least one cement retarder characterized by a major proportion of the drilling fluid from the well as it was drilled; water; a lesser proportion of dry cementitious material; a minor amount of a dispersant that does not effect satisfactory set cement within an acceptable time interval; and an accelerator selected from the class consisting of acetic acid; the first 4 carbon esters thereof; acetamide; monoethanolamine; and diethanolamine. The first 4 carbon esters are the methyl; ethyl; propyl, both normal and isopropyl; and butyl ester, normal, isobutyl and tertiary butyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved water based drilling fluid and an improved spotting fluid utilizing unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon compositions which are non-polluting and minimally toxic. The invention provides excellent drilling fluid properties under a wide variety of drilling conditions. The synthetic hydrocabons are selected from the group consisting of branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C.sub.2 to C.sub.14 chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 120 to 1000. The compositions of these hydrocarbons are free of aromatics and petroleum based toxic impurities. The synthetic hydrocarbons are unhydrogenated.

Abstract: An emulsion and emulsion drilling fluid are disclosed. The emulsion has utility as an oil based drilling fluid comprising a glycol emulsified in a synthetic hydrocarbon material. The synthetic hydrocarbon material has an average molecular weight of from about 120 to 1,000 and is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers having a chain length of C.sub.2 to C.sub.14.