The present invention relates to a solid formulation of soap stick type comprising a primary surfactant, at least one binding agent and at least one dispersant that may especially be an amphoteric surfactant, optionally with additives. The present invention also relates to uses of said formulation, especially for oilfield applications, e.g. for gas well deliquification applications.

In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a K.sub.a greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.

One or more embodiments presently described are directed to lubricants and methods for making such lubricants. According to one embodiment, a lubricant suitable for use in a water-based drilling fluid may comprise one or more alkyl esters and a fatty acid blend comprising at least palmitic acid and stearic acid. The sum of the weight percent of the palmitic acid and stearic acid may be at least 50 wt. % of the fatty acid blend. The weight ratio of the one or more alkyl esters to the fatty acid blend may be from 1:1 to 3:1. The molar ratio of palmitic acid to stearic acid may be from 20:80 to 40:60.

One or more embodiments presently described are directed to lubricants and methods for making such lubricants. According to one embodiment, a lubricant suitable for use in a water-based drilling fluid may comprise one or more alkyl esters and a fatty acid blend comprising one or more medium-chain fatty acids. The one or more medium-chain fatty acids may be at least 50 weight percent (wt. %) of the fatty acid blend. The weight ratio of the one or more alkyl esters to the fatty acid blend may be from 1:1 to 3:1.

A lubricant composition includes (a) a hydrocarbon oil including at least 30%wt of isoparaffins, based on the total weight of the hydrocarbon oil, and (b) an alkoxylated natural oil. A method of using the lubricant composition in a water- based composition, in particular a water-based mud, to improve the lubricity and/or to reduce the foaming properties of the water-based composition is also disclosed.

Proteinaceous enhanced oil recovery operates on the principle that proteins can be denatured using chemicals to break them down into a viscous polymeric mixture that exhibits an EOR effect. In one or more embodiments, the proteins in question are sourced from an algae (spirulina) meal, which could be obtained as a waste product from wastewater treatment or bioprocessing operations, including biofuel production where the lipids are extracted for fuel but the large volumes of proteins are considered a waste material with little or negative value. In other embodiments, other biomasses are used, especially edible biomasses, thereby mitigating public resistance to drilling operations due to concerns of perceived toxicity of chemicals. This also mitigates legal liability from the use of chemicals that are known to be toxic. Additionally, the agents are denatured biomasses that have not undergone expensive purification or separation steps. This will make these agents highly cost competitive. And, because there is no separation or purification, there are no wastes or byproducts from the synthesis to be disposed of. This also reduces costs compared to competitors.

An electrocrushing drilling system containing an electrocrushing drill bit with electrodes through which a voltage may be discharged that are at least 0.4 inches apart at their closest spacing and an electrocrushing drilling fluid including a polar oil, a non-polar oil, or a combination thereof and water are described. Methods of electrocrushing drilling using such a system are also described.

A solvent blend for breaking down and reducing the viscosity of petroleum substance consists essentially of one or more methyl esters of C14-C18 fatty acids, one or more C9-C20 low aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and one or more C4-C8 high aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, with the high aromatic solvent fraction being dispersed within the solvent blend in droplet form. The solvent blend may be produced by mixing the high aromatic solvent fraction into an intermediate or base blend consisting essentially of the methyl ester fraction and the low aromatic solvent fraction, with the base blend being produced by mixing the lower aromatic solvent fraction into the methyl ester fraction such that the lower aromatic solvent fraction is dispersed within the methyl ester fraction in droplet form.

The disclosure relates to an electrocrushing drilling fluid with an electrocrushing drilling base fluid including a non-polar oil, water, and glycerin. The base fluid may further include a polar oil and an alkylene carbonate. The electrocrushing drilling fluid may further contain at least one additive. The electrocrushing drilling fluid may have a dielectric constant or dielectric strength of at least a set amount, an electric conductivity less than a set amount, or a combination of these properties. The disclosure further relates to an electrocrushing drilling system containing the electrocrushing drilling fluid and an electrocrushing drill bit.

A rubber friendly lubricant composition adapted for lubricating the cable in a greaseless down hole logging process including a general formulation: polypropylene glycol, poly alkylene glycol; amine borate; 1,3,4-Thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, disodium salt; and, deionized water. The lubricant being compatible with seals and rubbers, and other related materials, used on trucks and other oil field vehicles and equipment. Being water soluble, the lubricant also presents a low potential for fire risk, and is considered environmentally friendly. The lubricant also exhibiting superior freeze properties.