Thixotropy without viscosity: A new approach to rheology control of oil muds

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6974036

Grantham, C K; McLaurine, H C

A new oil mud additive which imparts thixotropic properties to oil base muds has been developed and field tested. This new product is used in combination with an organophilic clay and imparts gel strength to oil base fluids without the corresponding increase in plastic viscosity. The use of this new amide resin is especially useful in developing thixotropy in oil emulsions drilling fluids using low viscosity mineral oils. The data presented demonstrates that a new additive has been developed which beneficiates organophilic clays without adding to the viscosity of the fluid. This additive causes organophilic clays to yield at ambient temperatures and low shear to produce fluids with minimum rheology changes over a wide range of temperatures. The use of this additive makes possible thixotropic fluids with reduced yield points and improved gel strengths without a corresponding increase in plastic viscosity. These properties make possible the formulation of fluids with inverted flow properties having low plastic viscosities and desirable gel strengths. Using this new additive, oil continuous fluids can be formulated with water contents ranging from 0 to 30% with minimal changes in rheology. It is further suggested that the application of the amide resin chemistry creates the opportunity for novel waterless drilling, coring and packer fluids.

• Research Organization: Magcobar Group/Dresser Inc.
• OSTI ID: 6974036
• Report Number(s): CONF-861080-
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ADDITIVES
AMIDES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CLAYS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
EMULSIONS
FIELD TESTS
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
GELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
MINERAL OILS
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLASTICITY
RHEOLOGY
SOLUTIONS
SYNTHESIS
TESTING
THIXOTROPY
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELLS