Compositions for freeing jammed drill pipes

A liquid composition free from mineral oil, for freeing jammed drill pipes comprising:

• (a) from about 80 to about 95% by weight of a fatty acid alkyl ester or mixture of esters of the formula:
• ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is a linear C.sub.7 -C.sub.30 alkyl alkenyl or alkandienyl radical and R.sup.2 is a linear or branched alkyl or hydroxyalkylene radical having from 1-8 carbon atoms wherein the ester or mixture of esters has a pour point not higher than about -15.degree. C.;
• (b) from about 0.5 to about 5% by weight of at least one oleophilic bentonite thickener;
• and
• (c) from about 1 to about 10% by weight of an emulsifier system of at least one emulsifier selected from the group consisting of polyamines, aminoamides, low alkoxylated alkylphenols and imidazolines and mixtures thereof and at least one coemulsifier selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, calcium salts of fatty acids;
• alkyl sulfonic acids, calcium salts of alkyl sulfonic acids, alkylbenzene sulfonic acids, calcium salts of alkylbenzene sulfonic acid and mixtures thereof.