Drilling fluid additives and fracturing fluid additives containing cellulose nanofibers and/or nanocrystals

Abstract

This disclosure provides drilling fluids and additives as well as fracturing fluids and additives that contain cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals. In some embodiments, hydrophobic nanocellulose is provided which can be incorporated into oil-based fluids and additives. These water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include lignosulfonates and other biomass-derived components. Also, these water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include enzymes. The drilling and fracturing fluids and additives described herein may be produced using the AVAP® process technology to produce a nanocellulose precursor, followed by low-energy refining to produce nanocellulose for incorporation into a variety of drilling and fracturing fluids and additives.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling fluid additive comprising hydrophobic lignin-coated cellulose nanofibers and/or hydrophobic lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals. 
     
     
         2 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein said additive further comprises lignosulfonates. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein said additive further comprises non-sulfonated lignin. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein said additive further comprises enzymes. 
     
     
         5 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 1 , wherein said additive further comprises a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         6 . A drilling fluid additive comprising (i) hydrophilic nanocellulose and (ii) hydrophobic lignin-coated nanocellulose. 
     
     
         7 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein said additive further comprises lignosulfonates. 
     
     
         8 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein said additive further comprises non-sulfonated lignin. 
     
     
         9 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein said additive further comprises enzymes. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 6 , wherein said additive further comprises a crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         11 . A drilling fluid additive comprising (i) cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals and (ii) lignosulfonates. 
     
     
         12 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein said cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals are hydrophobic. 
     
     
         13 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 12 , wherein said cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals are lignin-coated. 
     
     
         14 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein said cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals are hydrophilic. 
     
     
         15 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 11 , wherein said cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals are crosslinked. 
     
     
         16 . A drilling fluid comprising a drilling fluid additive containing cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling fluid of  claim 16 , wherein said drilling fluid is a water-based drilling fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling fluid of  claim 16 , wherein said drilling fluid is an oil-based drilling fluid. 
     
     
         19 . The drilling fluid of  claim 16 , wherein said drilling fluid is a hybrid water-based/oil-based drilling fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The drilling fluid of  claim 16 , said drilling fluid further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a biomass-derived weighting material, a biomass-derived filtration-control agent, a biomass-derived rheology-control agent, a biomass-derived pH-control agent, a biomass-derived lost-circulation material, and a biomass-derived surface-activity modifier, a biomass-derived lubricant, a biomass-derived flocculant, a biomass-derived stabilizer, and combinations thereof.