P
USH1000HExpiredUtilityPatentIndex 90

Water based synthetic hydrocarbon drilling fluid and spotting fluid

Assignee: MI DRILLING FLUIDS COPriority: Mar 30, 1990Filed: Aug 16, 1990Granted: Dec 3, 1991
Est. expiryMar 30, 2010(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:PATEL ARVIND DMCGLOTHLIN RAYMOND E
C09K 8/28C09K 8/34C09K 8/36C09K 2208/02Y10S507/905
90
PatentIndex Score
30
Cited by
26
References
31
Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved water based drilling fluid and an improved spotting fluid utilizing unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon compositions which are non-polluting and minimally toxic. The invention provides excellent drilling fluid properties under a wide variety of drilling conditions. The synthetic hydrocabons are selected from the group consisting of branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2 to C 14 chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 120 to 1000. The compositions of these hydrocarbons are free of aromatics and petroleum based toxic impurities. The synthetic hydrocarbons are unhydrogenated.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved water based drilling fluid, characterized by minimal toxicity to plant and aquatic life and environmental compatibility, said improved drilling fluid comprising: a. an aqueous continuous phase;   b. an oil-in-water emulsifier; and   c. an unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon, said synthetic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 1000 and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers having a chain length of C 2  to C 14 .   
     
     
       2. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 60 to 800. 
     
     
       3. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more oligomers containing a C 2  to C 10  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of 200 to 600. 
     
     
       4. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein the viscosity of said oil is from 1.0 to 6.0 centiStokes when measured at 212° F. 
     
     
       5. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein said oil-in-water emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of: alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfates, ethoxylated phenols, polyoxyethylene fatty acids, esters, ethers and combinations or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       6. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 5 wherein said emulsifier is present at a concentration of up to 10% by weight. 
     
     
       7. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon is present in a concentration of up to 30% by weight. 
     
     
       8. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 7 wherein the olefinic monomers of said synthetic hydrocarbon are selected from the group consisting of unhydrogenated oligomers of: ethylene, propene, butene-1, isobutene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 1 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is polybutene. 
     
     
       10. An improved water based drilling fluid characterized by minimal toxicity to plant and aquatic life and environmental compatibility, said improved drilling fluid comprising: a. an aqueous continuous phase;   b. an oil-in-water emulsifier present at a concentration of up to 10% by weight; and   c. an unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 1000 and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers having a carbon chain length of from C 2  to C 14 , and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is present at a concentration of up to 30% by weight.   
     
     
       11. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 10 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 160 to 800. 
     
     
       12. The improved water based drillinq fluid of claim 10 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more oligomers containing a C 2  to C 10  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of 200 to 600. 
     
     
       13. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 10 wherein the viscosity of said oil is from 10 to 6.0 centiStokes when measured at 212° F. 
     
     
       14. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 10 wherein said oil-in-water emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of: alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfates, ethoxylated phenols, polyoxyethylene fatty acids, esters, ethers and combinations or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       15. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 10 wherein the olefinic monomers of said synthetic hydrocarbon are selected from the group consisting of the unhydrogenated oligomers of: ethylene, propene, butene-1, isobutene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. An improved water based drilling fluid, characterized by minimal toxicity to plant and aquatic life and environmental compatibility, said improved drilling fluid comprising: a. an aqueous continuous phase;   b. an oil-in-water emulsifier, said emulsifier being present in a concentration of up to 10% by weight; said emulsifier being selected from the group consisting of alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfates, ethoxylated phenols, polyoxyethylene fatty acids, esters, ethers and combinations or derivatives thereof; and   c. an unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 1000 and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers having a carbon chain length of from C 2  to C 14  ; and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is present in a concentration of up to 30% by weight.   
     
     
       17. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 16 wherein said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 160 to 800. 
     
     
       18. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 16 wherein said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more oligomers containing a C 2  to C 10  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of 200 to 600. 
     
     
       19. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 16 wherein the viscosity of said oil is from 1.0 to 6.0 centiStokes when measured at 212° F. 
     
     
       20. The improved water based drilling fluid of claim 16 wherein the olefinic monomers of said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon are selected from the group consisting of: ethylene, propene, butene-1, isobutene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       21. An improved spotting fluid, characterized by minimal toxicity to plant and aquatic life and environmental compatibility, said improved spotting fluid comprising: a. unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 1000 and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers having a chain length of from C 2  to C 14  4; and   b. a functionally effective amount of a surfactant.   
     
     
       22. The improved spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oliqomers have an average molecular weight of from 160 to 800. 
     
     
       23. The improved spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more oligomers containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of 200 to 600. 
     
     
       24. The improved spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein the viscosity of said oil is from 1.0 to 6.0 centiStokes when measured at 212° F. 
     
     
       25. The spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic and cationic surfactants. 
     
     
       26. The spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein said surfactant is present in a concentration of from about 0.5% to 5.0% by weight. 
     
     
       27. The improved spotting fluid of claim 21 wherein the olefinic monomers of said unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon are selected from the group consisting of: ethylene, propene, butene-1, isobutene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       28. An improved spotting fluid, characterized by minimal toxicity to plant and aquatic life and environmental compatibility, said improved spotting fluid comprising: a. an unhydrogenated synthetic hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of from about 120 to about 1000 and wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon is synthesized from one or more olefinic monomers selected from the group consisting of: ethylene, propene, butene-1, isobutene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene and combinations thereof.   b. a surfactant, said surfactant being present in a concentration of from about 0.5% to about 5.0% by weight.   
     
     
       29. The improved spotting fluid of claim 28 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more olefins containing a C 2  to C 12  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of from 160 to 800. 
     
     
       30. The improved spotting fluid of claim 28 wherein said synthetic hydrocarbon oil comprises branched chain oligomers synthesized from one or more oligomers containing a C 2  to C 10  chain length and wherein the oligomers have an average molecular weight of 200 to 600. 
     
     
       31. The improved spotting fluid of claim 28 wherein the viscosity of said oil is from 1.0 to 6.0 centiStokes when measured at 212° F.

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