A water-based drilling fluid having spent jet-engine oil as a lubricant. A system and method for utilizing the spent jet-engine oil and the water-based drilling fluid to drill a borehole in a subterranean formation in the Earth crust.

Provided is a lubricant, which may include a mixture of alkyl-esterified fatty acids from waste vegetable oil and a C8/C10 fatty acid blend. The C8/C10 fatty acid blend may include a caprylic fatty acid (C8) and a capric fatty acid (C10). Provided is a method of preparing a lubricant, which may include providing alkyl-esterified fatty acids from waste vegetable oil and a C8/C10 fatty acid blend, and mixing them such that a homogeneous lubricant composition forms. Further provided is a water-based mud, which may include an aqueous base solution and a lubricant composition. Further provided is a method off preparing the water-based mud, which may include providing an aqueous base solution and a lubricant composition and mixing them such that the water-based mud forms. Further provided is a method of using a water-based mud, which may include introducing into a wellbore the water-based mud comprising a lubricant composition.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to downhole fluid additives including a clay, a hydroxylated polymer, a cation, and water. The disclosure further relates to downhole fluids, including drilling fluids, spaces, cements, and proppant delivery fluids containing such as downhole fluid additive and methods of using such fluids. The downhole fluid additive may have any of a variety of functions in the downhole fluid and may confer any of a variety of properties upon it, such as salt tolerance or desired viscosities even at high downhole temperatures.

A wellbore servicing fluid comprising (a) a cationic formation stabilizer having (i) a molecular weight in a range of from equal to or greater than 0.05 to equal to or less than 2.0 kiloDaltons (kDa), or (ii) cationic charge functional groups of greater than 2 to equal to or less than 5 cationic charges per molecule, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), (b) an anionic friction reducer, and (c) an aqueous fluid.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

A method for drilling a tunnel through a formation must address environmental concerns. One tunneling method comprises the steps of: preparing a mixed metal-viscosified drilling fluid including bentonite, a mixed metal viscosifier and controlling pH to 8.5 to 9.5 to permit a reaction between the bentonite and the mixed metal viscosifier; adding at least one of: (i) calcium sulfate and (ii) a potassium salt; and pumping the drilling fluid while drilling the tunnel with the pH lowered to 7-9. The amount of mixed metal viscosifier used can be limited such that the weight ratio of mixed metal viscosifier to MBT reaches up to 1:30. In the event that there is a problematic increase in viscosity, a non-toxic anionic thinner can be added to the drilling fluid. One such anionic thinner is a polyacrylate.

The present application discloses water-based drilling fluid systems and methods of making water-based drilling fluids systems. According to one embodiment, a drilling fluid system may include a drilling fluid and a lubricant. The lubricant may be synthesized from waste vegetable oil.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

A micronized date tree particle mix loss prevention material (LPM) is provided. The micronized date tree particle mix LPM includes date palm seed particles produced from date palm seeds and date tree fiber particles produced from date tree waste such as date tree trunks. The date palm seed particles may have a size in the range of 1 micron to less than 150 microns. The date tree waste fiber particles may have a size in the range of 1 micron to less than 250 microns. Methods of loss prevention and manufacture of a micronized date tree particle mix LPM are also provided.