# US 11,441,061 B2 · Water-based drilling fluid compositions and methods for drilling subterranean wells

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- Number: US 11,441,061 B2
- Document ID: US11441061B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/183,802
- Filed: 2021-02-24
- Published: 2021-06-17
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-04
- Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
- Inventors: Md Amanullah; Raed Alouhali; Sara Alkhalaf; Ali Radhwan; Mohammed Khalid Al-Arfaj; Abdulaziz S. Al-Qasim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441061B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/04: Aqueous well-drilling compositions
- C09K 8/206: {Derivatives of other natural products, e.g. cellulose, starch, sugars}
- E21B 21/00: Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor (freeing objects stuck in boreholes by flushing E21B31/03)
- C09K 2208/34: Lubricant additives
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A water-based drilling fluid comprising:
an aqueous base fluid;
one or more additives; and
a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid, where at least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil has a melting point less than or equal to 15° C.; wherein the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid; and
wherein one or both of:
the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises oleic acid in an amount of from 75 vol. % to 99 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil; or
the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises palmitoleic acid in an amount of from 1 vol. % to 25 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The water-based drilling fluid of claim 1, where the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises oleic acid in an amount of from 75 vol. % to 99 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The water-based drilling fluid of claim 1, where the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises palmitoleic acid in an amount of from 1 vol. % to 25 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The water-based drilling fluid of claim 1, where the molar ratio of oleic acid to palmitoleic acid is from 25:1 to 50:1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The water-based drilling fluid of claim 1, where the water-based drilling fluid comprises the aqueous base fluid in an amount of from 25 vol. % to 99 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The water-based drilling fluid of claim 1, where the water-based drilling fluid comprises the one or more additives in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 75 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid.

### Claim 7

A method of drilling a subterranean well, the method comprising:
operating a drill in a subterranean formation in the presence of a water-based drilling fluid, where the water-based drilling fluid comprises:
an aqueous base fluid;
one or more additives; and
a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid, where at least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil has a melting point less than or equal to 15° C.; wherein the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid; and
wherein one or both of:
the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises oleic acid in an amount of from 75 vol. % to 99 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil; or
the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil comprises palmitoleic acid in an amount of from 1 vol. % to 25 vol. % relative to the total volume of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil.