Method of decreasing the disintegration of shale-containing cuttings and drilling fluid therefor
AssigneeNewpark Drilling Fluids LLC
InventorHarry L. Dearing, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of enhancing the recovery of shale-containing cuttings during the drilling of a borehole in a shale-containing subterranean formation which comprises adding to the drilling fluid circulating in the borehole a finely ground, very sparingly soluble, anhydrous, alkali metal silicate glassy material to provide the drilling fluid with a concentration of soluble silica in the range from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of the aqueous phase of the drilling fluid. Preferably the drilling fluid has a pH in the range from about 8.0 to about 11.0, most preferably about 8.5 to less than 11.0. The preferred alkali metal is potassium.
Claims18
A method of increasing the recovery of shale-containing cuttings during the drilling of a borehole in a shale-containing subterranean formation which comprises circulating in the borehole a drilling fluid containing a finely ground, very sparingly soluble, anhydrous alkali metal silicate glassy material in an amount to provide the drilling fluid with a concentration of soluble silica in the range from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of the aqueous phase of the drilling fluid.
In a well drilling process in which a drilling fluid is circulated in a borehole while drilling, a method of increasing the recovery of shale-containing cuttings which comprises adding to the circulating drilling fluid a finely ground, very sparingly soluble, anhydrous alkali metal silicate glassy material at a rate to provide the drilling fluid with a concentration of soluble silica in the range from about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight of the aqueous phase of the drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid has a pH in the range from about 8.0 less than 11.0.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.