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US 7,018,955 B2Granted
Drilling fluid, apparatus, and method
AssigneeGrain Processing Corporation
InventorsKevin H. Schilling, Michael Riley, Roger E. McPherson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are drilling fluids that include carboxyalkylated corn hulls in an amount effective to inhibit fluid loss from a wellbore formation. The carboxyalkylated corn hulls are heat stable and surprisingly effective at inhibiting fluid loss. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and a drilling process.
Claims43
A drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- an alkyl glycoside, said alkyl glycoside being present in an amount effective to inhibit shale swelling and being selected from among the α-form, the β-form, and mixtures thereof, said alkyl glycoside selected from among the methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl glycosides of glucose, maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose;
- and
- carboxyalkylated corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation.
1 more element
A drilling apparatus comprising:
- a drill string;
- at least one pump for circulating a drilling fluid through at least a portion of said drill string, said pump being fluidically connected to a source of a drilling fluid, said drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- carboxyalkylated corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation.
1 more element
A drilling process comprising circulating a drilling fluid through a drill string, said drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- carboxyalkylated corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl corn hulls, said carboxyalkylated corn hulls being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation.
A drilling process comprising circulating a drilling fluid through a drill string, said drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- molasses solids, said molasses solids being present in an amount effective to inhibit shale swelling;
- and
- a carboxyalkylated agricultural residue, said agricultural residue containing hemicellulose and cellulose, said residue being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl substituted residue, said residue being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation.
1 more element
A drilling apparatus comprising;
- a drill string;
- at least one pump for circulating a drilling fluid through at least a portion of said drill string, said pump being fluidically connected to a source of a drilling fluid, said drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- molasses solids, said molasses solids being present in an amount effective to inhibit shale swelling;
- and
- a carboxyalkylated agricultural residue, said agricultural residue containing hemicellulose and cellulose, said residue being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethtl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl substituted residue, said residue being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation.
3 more elements
A drilling process comprising circulating a drilling fluid through a drill string, said drilling fluid comprising:
- a liquid base selected from the group consisting of water, water-miscible liquids, and mixtures thereof;
- molasses solids, said molasses solids being present in an amount effective to inhibit shale swelling;
- and
- a carboxyalkylated agricultural residue, said agricultural residue containing hemicellulose and cellulose, said residue being selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl, carboxyethyl, carboxypropyl, and carboxybutyl substituted residue, said residue being present in said drilling fluid in an amount effective to inhibit loss of said drilling fluid into a wellbore formation, wherein said drilling fluid is exposed to a temperature of at least 150° F. for at least 5 hours.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.