Drilling fluids and muds containing selected ester oils
AssigneesHenkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Baroid Limited
InventorsHeinz Mueller, Claus-Peter Herold, Stephan von Tapavicza, Douglas J. Grimes, Jean-Marc Braun, Stuart P. T. Smith
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Abstract
Invert emulsion muds for drilling of gas and oil, which are environmentally safe, and which contain: A. a continuous oil phase composed predominantly of at least one monocarboxylic acid ester of a C.sub.2 C.sub.12 monofunctional alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 12 to 16 carbon atoms and is aliphatically saturated, B. a disperse aqueous phase, C. at least one emulsifier, D. at least one weighting agent, E. at least one fluid loss additive, and F. a mild alkaline reserve.
Claims38
An invert emulsion drilling mud free of mineral oil and substantially free from highly hydrophilic basic materials selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and amines selected from diethanolamine and triethanolamine, consisting essentially of
- A. a continuous oil phase composed predominantly of at least one monocarboxylic acid ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 monofunctional alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 12 to 16 carbon atoms and is aliphatically saturated,
- B. a disperse aqueous phase,
- C. at least one emulsifier,
- D. at least one weighting agent,
- E. a viscosifier,
- F. at least one fluid loss additive, and
- G. a mildly alkaline alkali reserve component consisting of lime in a quantity not exceeding about 2 lb/bbl of said drilling mud.
A drilling fluid free of mineral oil for use in an invert drilling mud that is substantially free from highly hydrophilic basic materials selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and amines selected from diethanolamine and triethanolamine, consisting of
- A. a continuous oil phase composed predominantly of at least one monocarboxylic acid ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 monofunctional alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 12 to 16 carbon atoms, and is aliphatically saturated, and
- B. a disperse aqueous phase.
An invert emulsion drilling mud free of mineral oil and substantially free from highly hydrophilic basic materials selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and amines selected from diethanolamine and triethanolamine, consisting essentially of
- A. a continuous oil phase composed predominantly of at least one monocarboxylic acid ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.12 monofunctional alkanol wherein the monocarboxylic acid contains from 12 to 16 carbon atoms and is aliphatically saturated,
- B. a disperse aqueous phase, and
- C. a mildly alkaline alkali reserve component selected from the group consisting of lime and a weakly basic metal oxide in an amount to maintain a plastic viscosity in the range of from about 10 to about 60 mPa.s and a yield point in the range of from about 5 to about 40 lb/100 ft.sup.2 as measured at 50.degree. C. of said drilling mud.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.