Compositions and Methods for Treatment of Well Bore Tar

A method of treating tar sand comprising:

• contacting the tar sand with a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a styrene-acrylate polymer, the tar sand comprising tar and sand;
• and
• allowing the styrene-acrylate polymer to interact with the tar to at least partially separate the tar from the sand.

A method comprising:

• using a drill bit to enlarge a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising tar;
• and
• circulating an aqueous-based fluid past the drill bit to remove cuttings therefrom, the aqueous-based fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and a styrene-acrylate polymer, wherein the styrene-acrylate polymer interacts with at least a portion of the tar in the subterranean formation to at least partially reduce the tendency of the tar to adhere to a surface.

A treatment fluid comprising:

• an aqueous-based fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, and a styrene-acrylate polymer.

A drilling fluid comprising:

• an aqueous-based fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a styrene-acrylate polymer;
• and a weighting agent.