Described is a wastewater-based drilling fluid. The wastewater-based drilling fluid consists of about 40% to 60% by volume of a high salinity wastewater discharge. The wastewater-based drilling fluid also includes calcium carbonate as a bridging agent and barite as a weighting agent. The wastewater-based drilling fluid possesses a set of rheological properties and filtration control properties characteristic of a water-based drilling fluid.

A drilling fluid includes an aqueous base fluid; 1 to 30 wt. % of an okra composition; 10 wt. % of clay particles; and 0.005 to 0.5 wt. % of a base, each wt. % based on a total weight of the drilling fluid composition. The okra composition is uniformly disposed on surfaces of the clay particles. The clay particles disposed with the okra composition are present in the drilling fluid composition in the form of a composite. A pellet made from the clay particles treated with the okra composition has a swelling value at least 75% less than a swelling value of the pellet in an aqueous composition that does not contain the okra composition, as determined by a linear swell meter. A method of making the drilling fluid composition.

A drilling fluid composition includes an aqueous base fluid, 0.01 to 10 wt. % of a date palm leaves extract (DPLE), 1 to 10 wt. % of clay particles, and 0.01 to 1 wt. % of a base, where each wt. % based on a total weight of the drilling fluid composition. The DPLE is homogenously disposed on surfaces of the clay particles. The clay particles disposed with the DPLE are present in the drilling fluid composition in the form of a composite. A pellet made from the clay particles treated with the DPLE has a swelling value at least 75% less than a swelling value of the pellet in an aqueous composition that does not contain the DLPE. A method of making the drilling fluid composition.

A drilling fluid composition includes an aqueous base fluid, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of polyamine-functionalized activated carbon (AC-PAD), 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a shale material, 0.01 to 2 wt. % of a thickener, 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a fluid loss control additive, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of an adsorbent, and 1 to 20 wt. % of a borehole stabilizer. Each wt. % is based on a total weight of the drilling fluid composition. The AC-PAD is uniformly disposed on surfaces of the shale material. The shale material has an average pore size of 5 to 400 nanometers (nm). A method of preparing the AC-PAD and a method of drilling a subterranean geological formation.

The present invention relates to the field of drilling fluids, and discloses a strong plugging drilling fluid suitable for shale gas wells and a preparation method of the drilling fluid. The drilling fluid contains water, bentonite, a tackifier, a flow pattern regulator, a filtrate reducer, a plugging agent, and a weighting agent, wherein, based on 100 parts by weight of water, the content of the bentonite is 1-10 parts by weight, the content of the tackifier is 5-15 parts by weight, the content of the flow pattern regulator is 4-13 parts by weight, the content of the filtrate reducer is 4-13 parts by weight, the content of the plugging agent is 20-55 parts by weight, and the content of the weighting agent is 10-60 parts by weight; the drilling fluid provided in the present invention employs modified nano-silica as a plugging agent to improve dispersity and particle size distribution in the drilling fluid system. Therefore, the drilling fluid is especially suitable for well drilling in shale formations with developed micro-fractures (micro-fissures) and micro-pores, low porosity and low permeability (10.sup.3-10.sup.7 md), and prominent capillary effect.

There is described a novel method for processing plant material to produce a cellulose-containing material. The process comprises the steps of: (i) contacting particles of plant material with a peroxide agent and water; (ii) allowing the mixture from step (i) to hydrate until the pH of the mixture is pH 4.5 or less; and (iii) homogenising the mixture from step (ii) and isolating the cellulose-containing-material, and wherein the particles of plant material in step (i) have an average particle diameter of from 10 m to 800 m.

A drilling fluid composition comprises a concentrated mixture of mud additives. The concentrate comprises a water-based suspension medium comprising a colloidal solid and an effective amount of a water-sequestering polymer and an effective amount of at least one drilling mud additive mixed into the water-based suspension medium.

The invention relates to powdered lubricants for water based drilling fluids. Conventional liquid lubricants containing particularly divalent ions have the tendency to grease out. The powdered lubricants have excellent dispersion properties and hence do not grease out, when added to the drilling mud in the concentrations, preferably of the order of about 3% or less. The powdered lubricant is a combination of inert fillers with fatty acids that are essentially free from fatty acid esters and metal soaps and have organic acids containing C10-C24 alkyl groups fatty acids. The improved lubricating properties of the drilling muds result in greatly increased life of the rotary drilling bits and marked reduction in torque required to rotate the bit. Solid powdered additives compositions greatly reduce transportation costs and simplify the logistics and environmental concerns associated with shipping large volumes of liquids and overcome the pour point issues associated with liquid additives.

A drilling fluid and method for drilling in a coal containing formation with a mixed metal-viscosified drilling fluid including at least 0.05% calcium sulfate.

Modified asphalt particles contain asphalt and a modifier. The modifier comprises poly-sulfur and free sulfur. The sulfur element accounts for 10-40 weight percent of the total amount of the modified asphalt particles, and the poly-sulfur accounts for 30-70 weight percent of the total amount of the sulfur element. The total particle size of the modified asphalt particle is smaller than or equal to 150 ?m. The modified asphalt particles have an excellent high temperature performance, and can be used for preparing drilling fluids. Water-in-oil based drilling fluid obtained from the modified asphalt particles has low plastic viscosity, high dynamic shear force, high dynamic plastic ratio, and high emulsion-breaking voltage, and improves the high temperature resistance and cutting carrying capability of a system.