Patent ID: 6562762
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: C08B,C08L,C09K,Y10S

Abstract:
A process of reducing the loss of fluid into flow passages of a subterranean formation during well drilling, completion, or workover operations, the fluid being selected from the group consisting of drilling fluids, completion fluids, and workover fluids, the process comprising: (a) stopping injection of the fluid into a wellbore; (b) introducing into the flow passages an effective amount of an aqueous liquid comprising (1) water; (2) a partially hydrated chitosan, the chitosan particles being partially hydrated at an acidic pH less than about 4.5 and (3) a base to raise the pH of the liquid above about 6.5; and (c) allowing the partially hydrated chitosan particles to be deposited within the flow passages thereby reducing the loss of the fluid upon resuming the well drilling, completion, or workover operation.