Drilling fluids

Abstract

Disclosed herein are drilling fluid compositions, and methods of producing and using such compositions, wherein the drilling fluid compositions include a non-aqueous base fluid, a blend of one or more copolymers, and polyethylene. The blend of copolymers has an average molecular weight of about 20,000 or greater, and can be prepared by reacting at least one alpha-olefin, and at least one anhydride of an alpha,beta-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. The non-aqueous base fluid is an oil-based invert emulsion. The polyethylene has a melt index of less than about 10, and the average particle size of the polyethylene is about 0.06 inches or less.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.