Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a process fluid with an environmentally compatible biostabilizer in a geothermal borehole. The biostabilizer is characterized in that it comprises at least one organic acid, or a salt, alcohol or aldehyde thereof, wherein the at least one organic acid is selected from the group consisting of hop acids, resin acids, fatty acids and mixtures thereof. The biostabilizer is preferably a mixture of hop extract, rosin and myristic acid. The invention further relates to related process fluids and methods for producing the same.

Abstract: A drilling fluid containing a liquid phase, a weighting agent (e.g. barite, calcite, ilmenite), and perlite is described. The drilling fluid may further contain one or more additives including a defoamer, a fluid-loss control agent, a viscosifier, an antiscalant, a deflocculant, a lubricant, a clay stabilizer, a bridging agent, and a surfactant. A process of drilling a subterranean geological formation utilizing the drilling fluid is also specified. The introduction of perlite to the drilling fluid is effective in reducing the thickness and permeability of filter cakes formed during the drilling process.

Abstract: A composition for an environmentally friendly hydrofracturing friction reducer product can be synthesized. A method for synthesis of a friction reducer emulsion can include using gas-to-liquid synthesized oil as a continuous phase in invert emulsion polymerization. The composition can be optimized by using a suitable amount of salt tolerant monomer for the best performance with salt tolerant features. Various inverting agents can be utilized for the self-inverting in brine with good product stability. The optimized friction reducer can be used in weighted brine hydrofracturing.

Abstract: A composition for an environmentally friendly hydrofracturing friction reducer product can be synthesized. A method for synthesis of a friction reducer emulsion can include using gas-to-liquid synthesized oil as a continuous phase in invert emulsion polymerization. The composition can be optimized by using a suitable amount of salt tolerant monomer for the best performance with salt tolerant features. Various inverting agents can be utilized for the self-inverting in brine with good product stability. The optimized friction reducer can be used in weighted brine hydrofracturing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes employing industrial streams, including glycerol-containing by-products of triglyceride processing as well as waste glycol streams recovered from several sources, to produce oil well drilling, completion and hydrofracturing fluids.

Abstract: A distillation residuum bottoms composition and other alternative amine compositions are used as clay inhibitors in water-based drilling fluids and in hydraulic fracturing fluids for drilling wells and for fracturing subterranean formations, and are also used as clay inhibitors in other treatment fluids for treating wells or subterranean formations.

Abstract: The invention provides concentrates for reducing the fluid loss on an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid, the concentrates comprising an oleagineous liquid and (1) a polymer which is solublized in the oleagineous liquid, or (2) a polymer which is solublized in the oleaginous liquid together with an organophilic polyphenolic material which is solublized and/or dispersed in the oleagineous liquid. The method of preparing the concentrate and the method of reducing the fluid loss of an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid utilizing the concentrates is also disclosed. The preferred oil soluble polymer is a styrene-butadiene rubber crumb. The preferred oleagineous liquid is an aromatic-free hydrogenated oil essentially containing only saturated hydrocarbons. The preferred polyphenolic material is a source of humic acid, such as mined lignite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes employing industrial streams, including glycerol-containing by-products of triglyceride processing as well as waste glycol streams recovered from several sources, to produce oil well drilling, completion and hydrofracturing fluids.

Abstract: At least one petroleum coke may be added to an oil-based fluid to improve the electrical conductivity of the oil-based fluid. The oil-based fluid may be a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a drill-in fluid, a stimulation fluid, a servicing fluid, and combinations thereof. In a non-limiting embodiment, the downhole fluid composition may be circulated in a subterranean reservoir wellbore.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a unique drilling fluid composition and method for reducing lost mud circulation in wellbores due to seepage loss into fluid permeable subterranean formations. The drilling fluid composition comprises a variety of shapes and sizes of distinctive unadulterated elastomeric rubber particles derived from the tire retreading (recapping) process. These elastomeric rubber particles are incorporated into an aqueous, hydrocarbon, or synthetic drilling fluid in sufficient amounts as to plug holes, fractures, and fissures, form a mud cake, and thus stem the loss of drilling fluids from the lost circulation zone.

Abstract: The invention provides concentrates for reducing the fluid loss on an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid, the concentrates comprising an oleagineous liquid and (1) a polymer which is solublized in the oleagineous liquid, or (2) a polymer which is solublized in the oleaginous liquid together with an organophilic polyphenolic material which is solublized and/or dispersed in the oleagineous liquid. The method of preparing the concentrate and the method of reducing the fluid loss of an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid utilizing the concentrates is also disclosed. The preferred oil soluble polymer is a styrene-butadiene rubber crumb. The preferred oleagineous liquid is an aromatic-free hydrogenated oil essentially containing only saturated hydrocarbons. The preferred polyphenolic material is a source of humic acid, such as mined lignite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filtration control agent and a drilling fluid containing the same. The filtration control agent comprises the product obtained from the reaction of water, lignite, aldehyde and sulfonate polymer at 180-220° C. and the units containing sulfonate groups in the molecular chains of sulfonate polymer are at least 30 wt %. The filtration control agent provided by the present invention features a good filtration loss reduction effect and a low viscosity effect and can improve the rheological behavior of the drilling fluid, thereby meeting the requirements of the drilling of deep wells, ultra-deep wells and ultra high pressure formations.

Abstract: A non-aqueous wellbore servicing fluid comprising an alpha-olefin homopolymer grafted with a polar monomer.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention provides drilling fluid additives for reducing or controlling lost circulation in a drilling operation. The additives comprises particles. The particles comprise one or more solids in association a wax or waxy substance. A drilling fluid comprising a drilling fluid additive of the invention is also provided, as well as a method and use of the drilling fluid additive in a drilling operation to reduce or control lost circulation. Methods for manufacturing the drilling fluid additives are also described.

Abstract: In one aspect, this invention relates to the use of thermoset nanocomposite particles as components of drilling fluid, drill-in fluid, completion fluid, and workover fluid additive packages to reduce fluid losses to a formation and/or to enhance a wellbore strength. In another aspect, this invention relates to the use particles of specific gravity ranging from about 0.75 to about 1.75 as components of drilling fluid, drill-in fluid, completion fluid, and workover fluid additive packages to reduce fluid losses to a formation and/or to enhance a wellbore strength. Using embodiments of the invention, reduction of fluid loss and/or enhancement of wellbore strength may be achieved while working with water-based, oil-based, invert emulsion, or synthetic drilling muds. The currently most preferred embodiments of the invention use substantially spherical thermoset nanocomposite particles, possessing a specific gravity from approximately 1.02 to approximately 1.

Abstract: The present application relates to granules of powdery mineral particles produced by spray granulation of a liquid slurry comprising powdery minerals particles having particle size below 10 m, at least one water-reducing agent and/or at least one binder agent and/or at least one dispersing agent. The application further relates to a method for producing such granules.

Abstract: A downhole servicing composition comprising from about 15 percent to about 80 percent by weight of a clay, and from about 10 percent to about 75 percent by weight of a carbon source is disclosed. The invention includes a downhole servicing composition comprising from about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight of a first clay, from about 15 percent to about 45 percent by weight of a second clay, from about 10 percent to about 35 percent by weight of a filler, and from about 10 percent to about 75 percent by weight of a carbon source. The invention also includes a downhole servicing composition comprising an aqueous base and from about 10 percent to about 75 percent by weight of flaked graphite, wherein the downhole servicing composition has a thermal conductivity not less than about 0.8 BTU/hr-ft-° F.

Abstract: A drilling fluid or mud additive having several components, including leonardite (humic acid); potassium acetate; partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA); polyanionic cellulose polymer (PAC); sulfonated asphalt; sulfoalkylated tannin; polystyrene maleic anhydride copolymer; micronized cellulose fiber; and calcium carbonate. These components are preferably premixed in a dry formulation as a powder or as pellets, and shipped to the site in bags or bulk tanks. This offers substantial advantages over the prior art in that the drilling mud of the present invention may be formed simply by adding the dry mix to a predetermined amount of water, and is thus much easier to make than the prior art wet mix drilling fluids, which typically require precise ratios of several different powders and liquids to be mixed together. Hydration buffers help keep the powder or pellets dry and flowable.

Abstract: A method and drilling fluid additive composition are provided for reducing lost circulation and seepage loss when synthetic or oil based drilling fluid is used. The method includes injecting drilling fluid and 1 to 50 pounds per barrel of a loss control additive having a composition comprising 20 to 80 parts by weight fibrous particles, 10 to 40 parts by weight lignite, and 10 to 40 parts by weight phenol-formaldehyde resin.

Abstract: Humic acid salts are produced, with a high output of useful products, by a liquid-phase oxidation of the mixture of an alkaline agent with a lignin-containing plant raw material having the total content of dry substances of 12–20 %, said oxidation being carried out in two stages. In a first stage, pre-oxidation is carried out at a temperature of 50–190 DEG C. and a pressure of 0.5–3 MPa associated with simultaneous treatment with an oxygen-containing gas until a pH of 10.5–12 is reached. The second stage, i.e. oxidation is carried out in the similar conditions at a temperature of 170–200 DEG C. until a pH of 8.5–10 is reached. The by-product of cellulose production by a sulphite process, i.e. concentrated solutions of lignosulphonate or lignin is used as a lignin-containing plant raw material, said lignin being a by-product of hydrolysis production being continuously oxidised by air oxygen in two stages.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-inflammatory composition containing humate, such as insoluble, granular, other insoluble, or soluble humate, particularly Menefee Humate®. The invention also includes other anti-inflammatory compositions containing humate and at least one additional anti-inflammatory agent such as indomethacin or another nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The invention includes a method of treating acute or chronic inflammation in an animal, including a human, by administering one of these compositions. A method of facilitating the therapeutic effect of a therapeutic drug in an animal by co-administering humate is also provided.

Abstract: Grout slurries are provided that have high thermal conductivities of greater than about 1.4 Btu/hr-ft-° F. and low hydraulic conductivities ranging from about 5×10?9 cm/s to about 1×10?8 cm/s. Such grout slurries comprise water and a grout composition that is available as a one-sack product. The grout composition includes calcium bentonite present in an amount of from about 15% to about 45%, sodium bentonite present in an amount of from about 15% to about 45%, silica flour present in an amount of from about 10% to about 35%, and flaked graphite present in an amount of from about 10% to about 75%, all by weight of the grout composition. Further, methods of installing a conduit such as a heat transfer loop in a hole in the earth include placing the conduit in the hole, forming the foregoing grout slurry, and placing the grout slurry in the hole adjacent to the conduit.

Abstract: A drilling fluid additive system is provided wherein the system comprises: a drilling fluid additive comprising talc, graphite and at least one carrier such as a glycol; and hydrophilic clay, a pH controller, a fluid loss controller, and at least one dispersant.

Abstract: A drilling fluid additive system is provided wherein the system is manufactured by a method comprised of admixing graphite with at least one carrier such as a polypropylene glycol or oil to create a suspended mixture, and allowing the surface of the graphite to be pre-wet with the carrier prior to adding the mixture to a drilling fluid; and then further admixing hydrophilic clay, a pH controller, a fluid loss controller, and at least one dispersant to said drilling fluid additive system.

Abstract: A method for drilling, running casing in, and/or cementing a borehole in a subterranean formation without significant loss of drilling fluid is disclosed, as well as compositions for use in such method. The method employs a drilling fluid comprising a fragile gel or having fragile gel behavior and providing superior oil mud rheology and overall performance. The fluid is especially advantageous for use in deep water wells because the fluid exhibits minimal difference between downhole equivalent circulating density and surface density notwithstanding differences in drilling or penetration rates. When an ester and isomerized olefin blend is used for the base of the fluid, the fluid makes an environmentally acceptable and regulatory compliant invert emulsion drilling fluid. The fluid preferably contains no organophilic clays.

Abstract: A dense drilling fluid additive used to control lost circulation, fluid loss and/or seepage loss of drilling fluid during drilling operations is disclosed. Such additive is formed from ground base materials, such as inorganic matter, and may be used to manage the rheological properties of drilling fluid.

Abstract: A drilling fluid or mud having several components, including leonardite (humic acid); potassium acetate; partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA); polyanionic cellulose polymer (PAC); sulfonated asphalt; sulfoalkylated tannin; polystyrene maleic anhydride copolymer; micronized cellulose fiber; calcium carbonate; and calcium carbonate. These components are preferably premixed in a dry formulation as a powder or as pellets, and shipped to the site in bags or bulk barrels. This offers substantial advantages over the prior art in that the drilling mud of the present invention may be formed simply by adding the dry mix to a predetermined amount of water, and is thus much easier to make than the prior art wet mix drilling fluids, which typically require precise ratios of several different powders and liquids to be mixed together. The humic acid serves as hydration buffer to help keep the powder or pellets dry and flowable.

Abstract: Well-working fluid compositions containing certain processed inorganic, oil and water wettable ground elastomeric crumb rubber materials to decrease the seepage loss of various fluids to subterranean formations in which these well working fluids are required and utilized are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of reducing the seepage and whole mud loss of these well working fluids utilizing such ground elastomeric crumb rubber materials.

Abstract: A drilling fluid additive system is provided wherein the system is manufactured by a method comprised of admixing colloidal solids such as talc with a carrier such as oils and glycols or talc with cellulose to create a suspended mixture to thereby allow the colloidal solids to be pre-wet or coated with the carrier; and then admixing copolymer beads to the suspended mixture to allow the beads to be pre-wet or coated with the carrier; and then adding the suspended mixture with a mixture comprised of hydrophilic clay, a pH controller, a fluid loss controller, and a dispersant.

Abstract: A drilling fluid additive system is provided wherein the system is manufactured by a method comprised of admixing colloidal solids such as talc with a carrier such as oils or glycols to create a suspended mixture to thereby allow the colloidal solids to be pre-wet or coated with the carrier; and then admixing copolymer beads to the suspended mixture to allow the beads to be pre-wet or coated with the carrier; and then adding the suspended mixture with a mixture comprised of hydrophilic clay, a pH controller, a fluid loss controller, and a dispersant.

Abstract: Sulfonated uintaite is prepared by sulfonating a naturally occurring uintaite charge with a sulfonating agent such as sulfur trioxide, fuming sulfuric acid, chlorosulfonic acid, oleum, or concentrated sulfuric acid to produce sulfonic acids of uintaite. The resulting sulfonic acids are neutralized with a caustic neutralizing agent and sulfonated uintaite is the product. The sulfonated uintaite product is dried and packaged. The produced sulfonated uintaite is useful in oil and gas well working fluids (drilling muds). Neutralization of the resulting sulfonic acids with sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide as the caustic neutralizing agent yields water and oil-soluble or dispersible salts of the sulfonated uintaite. Neutralization with Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide) as the caustic neutralizing agent yields a product which is preferable in oil-based muds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising an HPHT fluid loss control aid, stable at elevated temperatures and which also acts as an excellent shale stabilizer, bore hold lubricant, sealant for depleted sand, and wall cake conditioner. The HPHT fluid loss control aid broadly comprises a uintaite sold under the trade name Gilsonite®, which also contains a surfactant such as a nonionic surfactant. The HPHT fluid loss control aid also contains a solubilized lignite such as causticized lignite and carbon black. The fluid loss control aid reduces HPHT filtrate loss, has good stability at elevated temperatures such as at 300° F., stabilizes troublesome shales and decreases bore hole erosion, helps seal depleted sands, reduces torque and drag, causes no adverse effects on the flow properties of the properly conditioned drilling fluid, and lowers total well costs.

Abstract: A salt water drilling mud comprising a mixture salt water, a solid phase such as pre-hydrated bentonite, attapulgite, sepiolite, and extended bentonite, among others and optionally a synthetic oil, which is mixed with at least one of five different modules. A first module contains caustic, a natural wax and a natural thinner. A second module contains components of the first module and an alkali metal aluminate prepared by reacting the first module with aluminum metal. A third module contains the components of the first module and an alkali metal phosphate and/or alkali metal silicate. A fourth module contains the components of the first module, a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid source, a surfactant, and a preservative. The fifth module contains a combination of the first, third and fourth modules.

Abstract: A drilling fluid system that combines a carbon black/asphaltite/lignite mixture with a fish oil/glycol mixture; and a method for manufacturing a drilling fluid system that could be utilized with pre-existing water based muds during drilling and excavating applications.

Abstract: A drilling fluid system that combines a carbon black/asphaltite/lignite mixture with a fish oil/glycol mixture; and a method for manufacturing a drilling fluid system that could be utilized with pre-existing water based muds during drilling and excavating applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing aqueous, clay-based muds, not aggressive to layer clays, which process comprises a first step in which clay is treated with an aqueous solution containing the necessary amount of dispersant to fluidify the mud; a second step, of separation of so treated clay from the aqueous solution containing any not adsorbed dispersant, and finally, a step of re-dispersion of so treated clay in water, in order to formulate the mud.

Abstract: A blended additive composition, which is useful for thinning aqueous drilling fluids, is disclosed. The composition includes a first component selected from the group including: a modified tannin, a modified lignite and sodium lignosulfonate; a second component being a polymer prepared from acrylic acid; and a third component being a metal compound selected from the group of metals including iron, tin, chromium, manganese, titanium, aluminum and zinc.

Abstract: Cement compositions which have improved properties such as increased stability, reduced settling tendencies, enhanced fluid loss properties and the like and methods of using such cement compositions are provided. The cement compositions are comprised of water, hydraulic cement and an aqueous colloidal silicic acid suspension wherein the colloidal silicic acid particles have a specific surface area in the range of from about 50 m.sup.2 /g to about 1000 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a water based drilling fluid additive comprising the steps of: (a) mixing hydrophobic carbon black and either a surfactant or a dispersant and (b) shearing the mixture of step (a) under a sufficiently high mechanical shear for a sufficient time to convert the hydrophobic carbon black into hydrophilic carbon black. This invention is also directed to a water based drilling fluid additive prepared according to the above process and the use of the additive in a water based drilling fluid.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a water based drilling fluid additive comprising the steps of:(a) premixing hydrophobic asphaltite and either a surfactant or a dispersant and(b) shearing the mixture of step (a) under a sufficiently high mechanical shear for a sufficient time to convert the hydrophobic asphaltite into hydrophilic asphaltite. This invention is also directed to a water based drilling fluid additive prepared according to the above process and the use of the additive in a water based drilling fluid.

Abstract: A method of improving high temperature fluid loss and rheology stabilization of high calcium brine clay-containing oil well drilling fluids which comprises adding thereto a stabilizing amount of a water-soluble terpolymer composition comprising:______________________________________ Ingredients % by weight ______________________________________ NaAMPS 72-3.8 N,N-dimethylacrylamide 13.5-0.7 Acrylonitrile 9.5-0.5 ______________________________________said composition containing lignin, modified lignin, brown coal or modified brown coal in an amount ranging between 5-95% with the lignin, modified lignin, brown coal or modified brown coal having been present during the polymerization of the water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: A method of improving high temperature fluid loss and rheology stabilization of high calcium brine clay-containing oil well drilling fluids which comprises adding thereto a stabilizing amount of a water-soluble terpolymer composition comprising:______________________________________ Ingredients % by weight ______________________________________ NaAMPS 72-3.8 N,N-dimethylacrylamide 13.5-0.7 Acrylonitrile 9.5-0.5 ______________________________________said composition containing lignin, modified lignin, brown coal or modified brown coal in an amount ranging between 5-95% with the lignin, modified lignin, brown cell or modified brown coal having been present during the polymerization of the water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: A water-based drilling mud additive comprising a preblended combination of about 2 parts of high softening point uintaite, about 1 part of a lower softening point uintaite, about 1 part of causticized lignite, and a strongly lipophilic, non-ionic surfactant is disclosed. This composition decreases shale sloughing and bore-hole instability during drilling of wells.