Rheox Inc.

Nl Industries

Elementis Specialties, Rheox Inc.

Araxi Chiavoni

Charles A Cody

Edward D Magauran

Barbara A Campbell

David Josehph Dino

William W Reichert

Steven J Kemnetz

William Reynolds

Lawrence DiCarlo

Modasser El-Shoubary

Mauriello D Kieke

This invention is a process for improving the rheological properties of oil well drilling fluids particularly useful for oil-based invert emulsion types of drilling fluids. The process is particularly useful when drilling in deep water from an off-shore drilling rig. The new process uses as a rheological viscosifier, for such fluids, a composition which is a mixture of organoclays and castor wax and/or castor was type rheological additives, which when added to a drilling fluid at from about 0.5 and 5% by weight, creates an inventive drilling fluid compositions less sensitive to the variety of different and varying, very hot and very cold temperatures found in the drilling hole, and in the long stem of drilling pipe. The present invention also relates to the discovery of oil based invert emulsion drilling fluids that exhibit greater efficiency and provides more stable drilling fluid viscosity and anti-settling performance over varying temperatures when compared to conventional fluids containing organoclays. Conventional organophilic clays, when used as rheological additives in oil based invert muds, display marked viscosity increases in the mud when these muds are cooled through the temperature range found today in deep water and directional drilling, whereas muds prepared according to the present invention are dramatically more viscosity stable over the same temperature ranges. As a result, the fluids of this invention are ideal candidates for reduced temperature applications such ad deep water drilling and directional drilling. Organoclays, also known as organophilic clays, are the reaction product of smectite-type clays (most often bentonite and hectorite) quaternary ammonium compounds (also called cationic organic salts). Castor wax type rheological additives are derivative of castor oil produced by the controlled hydrogenation of castor oil.

Less temperature dependent drilling fluids for use in deep water and directional drilling and processes for providing less temperature dependent rheological properties to such drilling fluids

Quaternary ammonium compositions are described which are made in diluents based on vegetable oil such as soya bean oil. Such diluents remain as diluents in the final product and generally have a vapor pressure of 1 mm of Hg or less at 25.degree. C., and are liquid at ambient temperature. The liquid quaternary ammonium compound/diluent compositions have low toxicity and low volatile organic compound emission rates and high flash points, and can be tailored to particular applications. Such applications include use in fabric softeners, as cosmetics ingredients, deinking additives, surfactants, and reaction materials in the manufacture of organoclays.

Non-volatile quaternary ammonium compositions and their uses

Quaternary ammonium compositions are described which are made using diluents including soya bean oil, caster oil, mineral oils, isoparaffin/naphthenic and coconut oil. Such diluents remain as diluents in the final product and generally have a vapor pressure of 1 mm of Hg or less at 25.degree. C., and are liquid at ambient temperature. The quaternary/ammonium diluent compositions have low volatile organic compound emission rates and high flash points, and can be tailored to particular applications. Such applications include use a fabric softeners, cosmetics ingredients, deinking additives, surfactants, and reaction materials in the manufacture of organoclays.

Process for producing organoclays with quaternary ammonium compositions

Organoclay compositions

A theological additive especially for liquid organic systems containing a castor-oil derivative with hydroxyl values below that appearing in nature. The additive may also contain clays and other extenders. The preferred derivative is castor wax. The additive largely eliminates the long term problem of seeding exhibited by paints and coatings using castor-oil derived additives while simultaneously providing improved dispersability and viscosity modifying qualities.

Rheological additive comprising derivatives of castor oil

A preactivated organophilic clay gellant that may be used to thicken organic compositions, especially, lubricating greases without the presence of a polar activator. The preactivated organophilic clay gellant may be prepared using certain process parameters namely shearing of the smectite-type clay prior to reaction with the organic cation, dilute reaction conditions and gentle drying of the organophilic clay or the preactivated organophilic clay gellant.

Preactivated organophilic clay gellant lubricating grease thickened with

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Trenton, NJ, United States of America

Araxi Chiavoni