Saltwater and hard water bentonite mud
First Claim
1. A process for preparing a drilling mud comprising:
- (a) measuring a quantity of water selected from the group consisting of saltwater and hard water sufficient to hydrate the mud;
(b) adding a caustic agent to the water of step (a) in an amount sufficient to product a pH in the prepared mud between about 8 and about 12;
(c) adding a filtration control agent to the mixture of step (b); and
(d) adding bentonite to the mixture of step (c) in a quantity sufficient to achieve the desired viscosity.
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Abstract
A seawater/saltwater or hard water bentonite mud for use in drilling, and process for preparing same, comprising sequentially adding to seawater, to saltwater of a chloride concentration up to saturation, or hard water: (1) a caustic agent; (2) a filtration control agent; and (3) bentonite. The resultant drilling mud meets API standards for viscosity and water loss, and is stable after aging and at temperatures in excess of 100° C.
In another embodiment, the additives are premixed as dry ingredients and hydrated with seawater, saltwater or hard water.
Unlike other bentonite drilling muds, the muds of this invention require no fresh water in their preparation, which makes them particularly useful at off-shore and remote on-shore drilling locations. The muds of this invention using bentonite further require less clay than known saltwater muds made with attapulgite, and provides superior filtration control, viscosity and stability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for preparing a drilling mud comprising:
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(a) measuring a quantity of water selected from the group consisting of saltwater and hard water sufficient to hydrate the mud; (b) adding a caustic agent to the water of step (a) in an amount sufficient to product a pH in the prepared mud between about 8 and about 12; (c) adding a filtration control agent to the mixture of step (b); and (d) adding bentonite to the mixture of step (c) in a quantity sufficient to achieve the desired viscosity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification