Organophilic clay suspending agents
AssigneeVenture Innovations, Inc.
InventorRoy F. House
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of preparing organophilic clay suspending agents having enhanced dispersibility in oleaginous liquids, the organophilic clay containing suspending agents, and methods of increasing the viscosity of oleaginous liquids utilizing these suspending agents. The suspending agents are of particular use in mineral oil based invert emulsion drilling fluids.
Claims16
The method of producing an organoclay suspending agent which comprises extruding a mixture containing a clay selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, sepiolite, and mixtures thereof, from about 20 to about 60 milliequivalents per 100 grams of 100% active clay of a quaternary compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, from about 20% to about 59% by weight of water, and from about 1% to about 15% by weight of an alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and thereafter grinding the organoclay gellant without removing the water or alcohol therefrom.
A method of increasing the viscosity of an oleaginous liquid which comprises extruding a mixture containing a clay selected from the group consisting of attapulgite, sepiolite, and mixtures thereof, from about 20 to about 60 milliequivalents per 100 grams of 100% active clay of a quaternary compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, from about 20% to about 59% by weight of water, and from about 1% to about 15% by weight of an alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and thereafter dispersing the extrudate into the oleaginous liquid without removing the water of alcohol therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.