Shale inhibitors and systems and methods related thereto
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsMohammed Khaled AL-ARFAJ, Hassan ALQAHTANI, Turki Thuwaini ALSUBAIE, Hussain SHATEEB
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Abstract
Drilling fluids, methods, and systems for drilling a subterranean formation. Drilling fluids include an aqueous base fluid and a shale inhibitor comprising cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Methods include providing the drilling fluid and drilling at least a portion of a wellbore into a subterranean formation in the presence of the drilling fluid. Systems include a drill string extendable into the wellbore from a drilling platform and conveying the drilling fluid to a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string. The subterranean formation may be a shale subterranean formation.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- providing a drilling fluid comprising:
- an aqueous base fluid, and
- a shale inhibitor consisting of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB);
- and
- drilling at least a portion of a wellbore into a subterranean formation in the presence of the drilling fluid.
(canceled)
A drilling fluid comprising:
- an aqueous base fluid, and
- a shale inhibitor consisting of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).
(canceled)
A system comprising:
- a drill string extendable into a wellbore from a drilling platform and conveying a drilling fluid to a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the drill string, the drilling fluid comprising:
- an aqueous base fluid, and
- a shale inhibitor consisting of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.