Newpark Drilling Fluids LLC

David L Breeden

Scott Gordon

Robert L Meyer

A water-based drilling fluid containing high molecular weight crosslinked polyacrylic acid as viscosifying agent exhibits stability at well temperatures in excess of 150&#xb0; C. The drilling fluid may further contain a lubricant, weighting agent and/or a wetting agent as well as laponite clay. The aqueous based drilling fluid exhibits a coefficient of friction which is substantially close to the coefficient of friction of oil based drilling muds.

Water-based drilling fluids containing crosslinked polyacrylic acid

A method of drilling a gas or oil well consists of use of a water-based drilling fluids containing high molecular weight crosslinked polyacrylic acid as viscosifying agent. The drilling fluid may further contain a lubricant, weighting agent and/or a wetting agent as well as a synthetic silicate or smectite clay. The aqueous based drilling fluid exhibits a coefficient of friction which is substantially close to the coefficient of friction of oil based drilling muds. The drilling fluid exhibits stability at well temperatures in excess of 150&#xb0; C.

Method of drilling a subterranean well with crosslinked polyacrylic acid

A lubricating composition containing one or more esters obtained as a reaction product from a reaction mixture of a glycerol component, a fatty acid component, and a carboxylic acid component wherein said glycerol component comprises glycerol, glycerol oligomers, or combinations thereof and further wherein said glycerol oligomers comprise linear chains, branched chains, cyclic chains, or combinations thereof and further wherein said glycerol oligomers have at least 2 repeat glycerol units and further no more than about 32 repeat glycerol units; wherein said fatty acid component comprises alkyl groups having at least about 8 carbon atoms and further wherein said alkyl groups have no more than about 32 carbon atoms; wherein said carboxylic component has at least one carbon atom per molecule and no more than about 8 carbon atoms per molecule; and wherein the fatty acid component comprises at least 50 percent by weight of the fatty acid component of oleic acid; wherein the fatty acid component comprises at least 5 percent by weight of the reaction mixture; and no more than about 40% by weight of the reaction mixture; and wherein the carboxylic acid component comprises at least about 0.1% by weight of the reaction mixture and no more than 20% of the reaction mixture. The lubricating composition can additionally contain a water-insoluble fluid. The lubricating composition is suitable for use as a lubricant and rate of penetration enhancing additive in drilling muds for oil well drilling operations.

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

David L Breeden