Drilling fluid compositions include a base fluid, at least one additive chosen from an emulsifier, weighting material, fluid-loss additive, viscosifier, or alkali compound, and from 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. %, based on total weight of the drilling fluid composition, of an ethoxylated alcohol compound having the formula R—(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.7—OH, in which R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms. The base fluid may be an aqueous base fluid. Methods for drilling a subterranean well include operating a drill in a wellbore in the presence of a drilling fluid composition including the base fluid, the additive, and the ethoxylated alcohol compound.

Drilling fluid compositions include a base fluid, at least one additive chosen from an emulsifier, weighting material, fluid-loss additive, viscosifier, or alkali compound, and from 0.1 wt. % to 1 wt. %, based on total weight of the drilling fluid composition, of an ethoxylated alcohol compound having the formula R—(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.7—OH, in which R is a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms. The base fluid may be an aqueous base fluid. Methods for drilling a subterranean well include operating a drill in a wellbore in the presence of a drilling fluid composition including the base fluid, the additive, and the ethoxylated alcohol compound.

In one embodiment, a spacer fluid may comprise a base fluid and a surfactant package. The surfactant package may comprise one or more surfactants, where the surfactant package comprises a first surfactant having the chemical structure R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH. R may be a hydrocarbyl group having from 9 to 20 carbon atoms, and x may be an integer from 5 and 15. The first surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of from 12 to 13.5.

In one embodiment, a spacer fluid may comprise a base fluid and a surfactant package. The surfactant package may comprise one or more surfactants, where the surfactant package comprises a first surfactant having the chemical structure R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH. R may be a hydrocarbyl group having from 9 to 20 carbon atoms, and x may be an integer from 5 and 15. The first surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of from 12 to 13.5.

Embodiments are directed to a lubricant package for water based drilling fluids. The lubricant package includes water, a polyethylene glycol, and a lubricating agent. The lubricating agent includes triethanolamine, or a C.sub.12-C.sub.14 alcohol ethoxylate, or a combination of triethanolamine and C.sub.12-C.sub.14 alcohol ethoxylate. The weight ratio of the polyethylene glycol to the lubricating agent in the lubricant package is from 1:2 to 2:1. Embodiments are also directed to a water-based drilling fluid composition including an aqueous base fluid, one or more additives, and the lubricant package for water based drilling fluids.

Embodiments are directed to a lubricant package for water based drilling fluids. The lubricant package includes water, a polyethylene glycol, and a lubricating agent. The lubricating agent includes triethanolamine, or a C.sub.12-C.sub.14 alcohol ethoxylate, or a combination of triethanolamine and C.sub.12-C.sub.14 alcohol ethoxylate. The weight ratio of the polyethylene glycol to the lubricating agent in the lubricant package is from 1:2 to 2:1. Embodiments are also directed to a water-based drilling fluid composition including an aqueous base fluid, one or more additives, and the lubricant package for water based drilling fluids.

A wellbore servicing fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, one or more alkali metal or alkali earth metal salts, at least one visocisifier, and a filtration control package. The filtration control package may comprise a carboxylic acid and an ethoxylated alcohol compound. Alternatively, the filtration control package may comprise a polyethylene glycol. The carboxylic acid may have from 8 to 20 carbon atoms. The ethoxylated alcohol compound may have a general formula R—(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.X—OH, where R is a hydrocarbon having from 10 to 16 atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 9. The ethoxylated alcohol compound may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of from 8.0 to 16.0. The polyethylene glycol may have a mass average molar mass (M.sub.w) of less than or equal to 1500 daltons.

A wellbore servicing fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, one or more alkali metal or alkali earth metal salts, at least one visocisifier, and a filtration control package. The filtration control package may comprise a carboxylic acid and an ethoxylated alcohol compound. Alternatively, the filtration control package may comprise a polyethylene glycol. The carboxylic acid may have from 8 to 20 carbon atoms. The ethoxylated alcohol compound may have a general formula R—(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.X—OH, where R is a hydrocarbon having from 10 to 16 atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 9. The ethoxylated alcohol compound may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of from 8.0 to 16.0. The polyethylene glycol may have a mass average molar mass (M.sub.w) of less than or equal to 1500 daltons.

Cement slurries, cured cements, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cement slurry contains water, a cement precursor material, an alcohol surfactant having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid comprising an aliphatic chain having from 16 to 18 carbons. In some embodiments, the alcohol surfactant may comprise the formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbons and x is an integer from 1 to 10. The cured cement contains water, cement, an alcohol surfactant having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid comprising an aliphatic chain having from 16 to 18 carbons. In some embodiments, the alcohol surfactant may comprise the formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbons and x is an integer from 1 to 10.

Cement slurries, cured cements, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cement slurry contains water, a cement precursor material, an alcohol surfactant having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid comprising an aliphatic chain having from 16 to 18 carbons. In some embodiments, the alcohol surfactant may comprise the formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbons and x is an integer from 1 to 10. The cured cement contains water, cement, an alcohol surfactant having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid comprising an aliphatic chain having from 16 to 18 carbons. In some embodiments, the alcohol surfactant may comprise the formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.x—OH where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbons and x is an integer from 1 to 10.