Patent ID: 7985717
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: C01B,C09K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of treating a wellbore, comprising: providing a drilling fluid comprising a nonaqueous phase and an organophilic clay treated with a quaternary ammonium surfactant having an amide linkage, wherein the quaternary ammonium surfactant comprises a compound generally represented by one of the following formulas: wherein M − is an anion, R 1 is an alkyl group, R 2 is a methyl, ethyl, or benzyl group, R 3 is a methyl, ethyl, or benzyl group, R 4 is a methyl, ethyl, or benzyl group, and x is greater than or equal to 1 or: wherein R is an alkyl group and X − is an anion; and placing at least a portion of the drilling fluid into the wellbore.