Patent ID: 8822386
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: C09K

Abstract:
1. A drilling fluid comprising: a base fluid selected from the group consisting of an aqueous fluid, a non-aqueous fluid and combinations thereof, where the base fluid comprises a continuous phase; solid particles suspended in the continuous phase; and nanoparticles having a size less than 999 nm, selected from the group consisting of: where the nanoparticles are present in the fluid in an amount effective to have an effect selected from the group consisting of: associate with shale of a subterranean formation adjacent a wellbore to stabilize the shale as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles; modify the electrical conductivity of the fluid as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles; increase the rheological stability of the fluid over a temperature range from ambient up to about 320° C. and a pressure range of from about atmospheric pressure up to about 350 MPa, as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles; reduce the drag of the fluid as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles; increase the stability of an emulsified fluid as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles, where the base fluid is an emulsion of an aqueous fluid and a non-aqueous fluid; reverse the wettability of a downhole material selected from the group consisting of filter cake, drill cuttings, wellbore surfaces, casing, downhole equipment and combinations thereof; lessen the corrosion of equipment contacted by the drilling fluid as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles, where the equipment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, duplex steel, chrome steel, martensitic alloy steels, ferritic alloy steels, austenitic stainless steels, precipitation-hardened stainless steels, high nickel content steels, and combinations thereof; and improve fluid loss by increased viscosity as compared with an identical drilling fluid absent the nanoparticles.