Multi-Component Drilling Fluid Additive, and Drilling Fluid System Incorporating the Additive

Abstract

Multi-component additive for incorporation into a drilling fluid, and a drilling fluid system comprising said multi-component additive. The additive preferably comprises three primary components: (1) a rate of penetration enhancer, namely one of a number of synthetic (non-toxic) ester-based or olefin-based oils as a carrier for other additives, such as surfactants; (2) a lubricant, namely one or more of a number of chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins, and plant based fatty acids; and (3) a clay inhibitor/stabilizer, such as a polyglycol. Preferably, the three components are pre-mixed in a single container, for ease in use in adding to a drilling fluid system. The additive may be incorporated into a drilling fluid system at a shore based facility, and the “liquid mud” transported to a drilling rig; or the additive may be brought to the drilling rig and incorporated into a drilling fluid system on site.

1 . A water based drilling fluid comprising:
 a) water as a continuous phase;   b) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil;   c) a lubrication enhancing component comprising:
 (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and 
 (ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof,
 said chlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and 
 
   d) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,
 wherein said drilling fluid comprises between about 4% and 10% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% and 6% by volume of clay inhibition component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said drilling fluid comprises about 4% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% by volume of clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         3 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component further comprises one or more surfactants. 
     
     
         4 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 1 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component comprises AQUA-SPOT-S™. 
     
     
         5 . The water based drilling fluid system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is a fresh water based system. 
     
     
         6 . The water based drilling fluid system of  claim 1 , wherein said system is a saturated salt system. 
     
     
         7 . A method of drilling an earthen borehole with an aqueous drilling fluid, comprising the steps of:
 a) mixing an aqueous drilling fluid comprising:
 i) water as the continuous phase; 
 ii) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil; 
 iii) a lubrication enhancing component comprising: 
 a chlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and 
 a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, 
 said chlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and 
 iv) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol, 
   wherein said drilling fluid comprises between 4% and 10% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% and 6% by volume of clay inhibition component.   b) pumping said drilling fluid downhole through a drill string, and returning said drilling fluid to the surface through an annulus between said drill string and the walls of said borehole,   thereby enhancing the rate of penetration of drilling through the earth, lubricating said drill string, and preserving the dimensions of said borehole through inhibition of clays surrounding same.   
     
     
         8 . A drilling fluid additive for incorporation into a drilling fluid system, comprising:
 a) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxic ester-based oil;   b) a lubrication enhancing component comprising:
 (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and 
 (ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, 
 said chlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and 
   c) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,   
       wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts to 10 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2 parts to 6 parts lubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts to 6 parts clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         9 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 8 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2 parts lubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 8 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component further comprises one or more surfactants. 
     
     
         11 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 8 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component further comprises AQUA-SPOT-S™. 
     
     
         12 . A water based drilling fluid comprising:
 a) water as a continuous phase;   b) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxic olefin-based oil;   c) a lubrication enhancing component comprising:
 (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and 
 (ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, 
 said chlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and 
   d) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,   wherein said drilling fluid comprises between about 4% and 10% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% and 6% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% and 6% by volume of clay inhibition component.   
     
     
         13 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 12 , wherein said drilling fluid comprises about 4% by volume of rate of penetration enhancing component, 2% by volume of lubrication enhancing component, and 2% by volume of clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         14 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 12 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component further comprises one or more surfactants. 
     
     
         15 . The water based drilling fluid of  claim 12 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component comprises AQUA-SPOT-S™. 
     
     
         16 . A drilling fluid additive for incorporation into a drilling fluid system, comprising:
 a) a rate of penetration enhancing component comprising a synthetic, non-toxic olefin-based oil;   b) a lubrication enhancing component comprising:
 (i) a chlorinated component of chlorinated normal paraffins having 9 to 20 carbon atoms, chlorinated esters of fatty acids, chlorinated waxes, chlorinated olefins or mixtures thereof; and 
 (ii) a sulfurized component of sulfurized fatty acid, sulfurized esters of fatty acids, sulfurized polymerized fatty acids, sulfurized olefins, or mixtures thereof, 
 said chlorinated and sulfurized components being combined in proportions to produce a composition containing about 15 to 30 weight percent chlorine and about 2 to 10 weight percent sulfur; and 
   c) a clay inhibition component comprising a polypropylene glycol,   
       wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts to 10 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2 parts to 6 parts lubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts to 6 parts clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         17 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancer, said lubricant, and said clay inhibitor are blended together in volumetric ratios ranges of 4 parts rate of penetration enhancing component; 2 parts lubrication enhancing component; and 2 parts clay inhibition component. 
     
     
         18 . The drilling fluid additive of  claim 16 , wherein said rate of penetration enhancing component further comprises one or more surfactants.