Okra composition as a shale swelling inhibitor in water-based drilling fluids

4:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the okra composition is at least one selected from the group consisting of an okra extract, an okra pressing, an okra homogenate, and any combination thereof.

5:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the okra composition comprises at least one polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of galacturonic acid, galactose, rhamnose, and arabinose.

6:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 5, wherein the at least one polysaccharide of the okra composition has a molecular weight in a range of 500 to 5000 kilodalton (KDa).

7:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the okra composition has a total sugar content of at least 60 wt. % based on a total weight of the okra composition, and wherein the sugar is a polysaccharide.

8:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the clay comprises sodium bentonite, calcium bentonite, potassium bentonite, sodium montmorillonite, calcium montmorillonite, or a combination thereof.

9:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the base is an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, an alkali metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, an alkaline earth metal carbonate, or a mixture thereof.

10:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous base fluid comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a foaming agent, a gelling agent, a pH control agent, a breaker, an oxidizing breaker, a gel stabilizer, a fluid loss control additive, a clay stabilizer, a corrosion inhibitor, a crosslinking agent, a scale inhibitor, a catalyst, a surfactant, a preservative, a biocide, a thermal stabilizer, and a combination thereof.

11:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, having a capillary suction time in a range of 50 to 300 seconds.

12:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, having a zeta potential in a range of −50 to −10 millivolts (mV).

13:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, having a zeta potential in a range of −30 to −15 mV.

14:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, having an average particle size (D50) in a range of 1 to 5 micrometers (μm).

15:

• The drilling fluid composition of claim 1, having an average particle size (D50) in a range of 1.5 to 4.5 km.

19:

• The method of claim 18, wherein the wellbore has a temperature in a range of 75-400° F., and a pressure in a range of 250-1,000 psi.

20:

• The method of claim 18, wherein the subterranean geological formation is a shale formation.