Compositions and methods for water control and strengthening unconsolidated formations

A method of drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation, comprising:

• providing a first drilling fluid that comprises an oil-based fluid and a first organoaluminum compound, the first organoaluminum compound being capable reacting with water to stabilize an unconsolidated section of sand, wherein the unconsolidated section of sand includes the water;
• drilling the well bore using the first drilling fluid;
• providing a second drilling fluid that comprises an oil-based fluid and a second organoaluminum compound, the second organoaluminum compound being capable of reacting with water present in a water-bearing section of the subterranean formation to reduce the flow of water therefrom;
• and
• drilling the well bore using the second drilling fluid.

A drilling fluid comprising:

• an oil-based fluid;
• and
• an organoaluminum compound, wherein the organoaluminum compound is capable of reacting with water to form at least one reaction product and wherein the organoaluminum compound comprises at least one organoaluminum compound selected from the group consisting of:
• an aluminum alkoxide, an aluminum butoxide, an aluminum tri-isopropoxide, an aluminum sec-butoxide di-isopropoxide, an aluminum tri-isopropoxide octanol, an aluminum ethylacetoacetate di-isopropoxide, an aluminum ethylacetoacetate di-octoxide, and any combination thereof and wherein the organoaluminum compound is present in the drilling fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.05 g/L to about 100 g/L.