Sulfate and sulfonate derivatives of unsaturated fatty alcohols, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol composition is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester. The fatty alcohol composition is then converted to a sulfate or sulfonate derivative by one or more of alkoxylation, sulfation, sulfonation, and sulfitation. Of particular interest are the sulfate and ether sulfate derivatives.

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.

The present disclosure is directed to compositions having lecithin and an organic acid and related methods. The disclosed compositions may also include one or more co-surfactants such as anionic surfactants and/or non-ionic surfactants, and may be used as a dispersant.

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.XOH 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.

The present disclosure provides methods for forming emulsions. A method for forming an emulsion comprises: bringing a first fluid phase in contact with a second fluid phase that is immiscible with the first fluid phase to generate the emulsion comprising the plurality of droplets. The plurality of droplets may comprise (i) the first fluid phase or the second fluid phase, (ii) a first surfactant at an interface between the first fluid phase and the second fluid phase, and (iii) a second surfactant that is different than the first surfactant. Subsequent to generating the emulsion, collect or direct the plurality of droplets along a channel. Subsequent to collecting or directing the plurality of droplets along the channel, at most 5% of the plurality of droplets coalesce.

A drilling fluid composition which includes a base fluid, one or more additives, and a viscosifier package. The base fluid is an invert emulsion comprising oil and water. Further, the one or more additives is chosen from an emulsifier, a weighting material, a fluid-loss control additive, or an alkaline compound. The viscosifier package includes a fatty acid having 6 or more carbon atoms and an aliphatic polyester. The drilling fluid composition has a yield point of from 30 lb.sub.f/100 ft.sup.2 to 100 lb.sub.f/100 ft.sup.2 and a low shear yield point of from 10 lb.sub.f/100 ft.sup.2 to 40 lb.sub.f/100 ft.sup.2. The associated method of drilling a subterranean well including operating a drill in a wellbore in the presence of the drilling fluid composition is also provided.

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.xOH. R may be a hydrocarbyl group having from 9 to 20 carbon atom, 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.

The invention concerns new mono-ammonium compounds of formula (I) with surfactant properties and improved biodegradability. It concerns also new mixtures comprising such mono-ammonium compounds and di-ammonium compounds.

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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.7OH, 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.