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.

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.

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.

Anti-bit balling drilling fluids and methods of making and using drilling fluids are provided. The anti-bit balling drilling fluid contains water, a clay-based component, and at least one of a surfactant having the formula: R(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.xOH, where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 and 10, or a polyethylene glycol having the formula: H(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.nOH, where n is an integer from 1 to 50. Methods of making and using these drilling fluids are also provided.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a well bore cementing system may comprise a spacer fluid and a cement slurry. The spacer fluid may be positioned within a well bore, and the spacer fluid may comprise a first surfactant package comprising one or more surfactants. The cement slurry may be positioned within the well bore, and the cement slurry may comprise a second surfactant package comprising one or more surfactants.

Drilling fluids and methods of making and using drilling fluids are provided. The drilling fluid contains an aqueous phase, an oleaginous phase, and at least one surfactant having the formula R(OC.sub.2H.sub.4).sub.xOH, where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 8 to 20 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 to 10. Methods of producing drilling fluids include mixing an aqueous phase, an oleaginous phase, and at least one surfactant, and shearing the mixture. Methods of using drilling fluids to drill subterranean formations include mixing an aqueous phase, an oleaginous phase, and at least one surfactant to produce a mixture, which is sheared to form a drilling fluid, and pumped through a drill string in a drill bit located in a subterranean formation. Rock cuttings are transported from the drill bit to a surface of the subterranean formation and the drilling fluid is circulated in the subterranean formation.

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.xOH, 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.