Disclosed is a method for modifying bentonite to allow the bentonite to be useful in drilling mud applications. The method includes the steps of: preparing bentonite local to Saudi Arabia using raw water to remove contaminants from the bentonite; grinding the bentonite to a fine powder; sieving the fine powder to be between about 50 μm and about 150 μm in particle size to produce a sieved fine powder; mixing the sieved fine powder with polyanionic cellulose polymer to produce a modified bentonite composition; adding the modified bentonite composition to water until a homogeneous solution of modified bentonite in water is formed; and allowing the homogeneous solution of modified bentonite in water to rest for about 16 hours to form a composition useful in drilling mud applications.

A wellbore treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a water-soluble salt, the salt comprising: a cation; and an anion, wherein the anion is selected from phosphotungstate, silicotungstate, phosphomolybdate, and silicomolybdate. The treatment fluid can have a density greater than or equal to 13 pounds per gallon. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well comprising: introducing the treatment fluid into the well.

A wellbore treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a water-soluble salt, the salt comprising: a cation; and an anion, wherein the anion is selected from phosphotungstate, silicotungstate, phosphomolybdate, and silicomolybdate. The treatment fluid can have a density greater than or equal to 13 pounds per gallon. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well comprising: introducing the treatment fluid into the well.

This invention provides zinc-free aqueous brine compositions. These zinc-free aqueous brine compositions have a density of about 14.3 pounds per gallon or more, and a true crystallization temperature of about 20° F. or less, and comprise water and one or more inorganic bromide salts, with the provisos that when calcium bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present, when lithium bromide is present, calcium bromide is absent, when bismuth(III) bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present, and for a true crystallization temperature of about 10° F. or less, when manganese(II) bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present. Processes for forming these zinc-free aqueous brine compositions are also provided.

This invention provides zinc-free aqueous brine compositions. These zinc-free aqueous brine compositions have a density of about 14.3 pounds per gallon or more, and a true crystallization temperature of about 20° F. or less, and comprise water and one or more inorganic bromide salts, with the provisos that when calcium bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present, when lithium bromide is present, calcium bromide is absent, when bismuth(III) bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present, and for a true crystallization temperature of about 10° F. or less, when manganese(II) bromide is present, one or more other water-soluble inorganic salts are also present. Processes for forming these zinc-free aqueous brine compositions are also provided.

A drilling mud composition including Aloe vera particles with a largest dimension of 75-600 μm, an aqueous base fluid, and a viscosifier, where the Aloe vera particles are present in the drilling mud composition at a concentration of less than 150 ppm, relative to the total weight of the drilling mud composition. A process for fracking a geological formation, whereby the drilling mud composition is injected into the geological formation through a well bore at a pressure of at least 5,000 psi to fracture the geological formation.

A drilling mud composition including Aloe vera particles with a largest dimension of 75-600 μm, an aqueous base fluid, and a viscosifier, where the Aloe vera particles are present in the drilling mud composition at a concentration of less than 150 ppm, relative to the total weight of the drilling mud composition. A process for fracking a geological formation, whereby the drilling mud composition is injected into the geological formation through a well bore at a pressure of at least 5,000 psi to fracture the geological formation.

A fiber silica composite microsphere for a shale stratum comprises a hollow silica sphere and fibers, and the fibers are partially coated on an outer surface of the hollow silica sphere and partially embedded into an interior of the hollow silica sphere. The hollow silica sphere has an outer diameter of 1-5 μm and an inner diameter of 0.8-4.7 μm; the fibers have a length of 5-10 μm and a width of 1-3 μm.

A fiber silica composite microsphere for a shale stratum comprises a hollow silica sphere and fibers, and the fibers are partially coated on an outer surface of the hollow silica sphere and partially embedded into an interior of the hollow silica sphere. The hollow silica sphere has an outer diameter of 1-5 μm and an inner diameter of 0.8-4.7 μm; the fibers have a length of 5-10 μm and a width of 1-3 μm.

A collection of compressible particles. The compressible particles are intended to be used for attenuating pressure within a confined volume such as a trapped annulus. Preferably, the compressible particles buoyantly reside within an aqueous fluid, forming a fluid mixture. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within the confined volume, and comprises carbon. The particles may each have a porosity of between 5% and 40%, and a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, at up to 10,000 psi. Each of the particles has a resiliency of between 80% and 120%.