Aqueous well-drilling fluids
AssigneeThe Lubrizol Corporation
InventorsJohn Bretz, Leonard S. Cech
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aqueous well-drilling fluids treated with additives comprising a non-Newtonian colloidal disperse system containing metal-containing particles, a dispersing medium and an organic compound having both a hydrophobic and a polar substituent in combination with at least one emulsifier are disclosed. Specific examples of the disperse system comprise calcium carbonate particles predispersed in a mineral oil dispersing medium in the presence of a calcium petrosulfonate; useful emulsifiers include alkylene oxide/fatty amine condensates. Well-drilling fluids containing such additives reduce the torque requirements in rotary drilling operations.
Claims19
An aqueous well-drilling fluid comprising (A) at least one non-Newtonian colloidal disperse system comprising:
- (1) solid metal-containing colloidal particles having a unit particle size of from about 20 A to about 5,000 A consisting essentially of alkaline earth metal salts, said salts being characterized by having been formed in situ, at least a portion of which are predispersed in
- (2) at least one organic liquid dispersing medium;
- and
- (3) as an essential component, at least one organic compound which is soluble in said dispersing medium, the molecules of said organic compound being characterized by a hydrophobic portion and at least one polar substituent
- and (B) a clay/water slurry and (C) at least one emulsifier effective for emulsifying said disperse system in said clay/water slurry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.