Additive for oil-based drilling fluids

An emulsifier comprising a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, and acid anhydrides, and combinations or mixes thereof, with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids derived from the distillation of crude tall oil, wherein said mixture comprises a ratio of fatty acids to resin acids ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:1, and wherein the ratio of said wetting agent to said product ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:1.

An additive for improving the properties of an invert emulsion comprising water or brine in an oil or synthetic based drilling fluid for use in drilling a borehole in a subterranean formation, said additive comprising a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles, selected from compounds or reagents selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides, and combinations or mixes thereof, with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids derived from the distillation of crude tall oil, wherein said acid mixture comprises a ratio of fatty acids to resin acids ranging from about 4:1 to about 1:1, and wherein the ratio of said wetting agent to said product ranges from about 1:5 to about 1:1.

A method for drilling a borehole in a subterranean formation, said method comprising employing an oil or synthetic based drilling fluid comprising an invert emulsion and an additive comprising a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of compounds or reagents with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids wherein said compounds or reagents are selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides and combinations or mixes thereof.

A method for improving or facilitating the emulsification of a drilling fluid, said method comprising adding to said drilling fluid a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids.

A method for improving the filtration properties of an oil or synthetic based drilling fluid or a drilling fluid comprising an invert emulsion, said method employing adding to said drilling fluid a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids.

A method for improving the electrical stability of an oil or synthetic based drilling fluid, or a drilling fluid comprising an invert emulsion, said method comprising adding to said fluid a wetting agent and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of dienophiles with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids.

A method for drilling a borehole in a subterranean formation employing a drilling fluid, said method comprising adding to said fluid a carboxylic acid terminated polyamide and a product produced by the Diels-Alder reaction of compounds or reagents with a mixture of fatty acids and resin acids wherein said compounds or reagents are selected form the group consisting of carboxylic acids, polycarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides and combinations or mixes thereof.