Patent ID: 6289989
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: C09K,C11D

Abstract:
A process for cleaning boreholes, drilling equipment and drill cuttings comprising:(a) forming a cleaning additive comprising at least one alkoxylation product obtained by the reaction of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof with an OH-containing C.sub.10-22 carboxylic acid or derivative thereof, wherein structural units corresponding to formula (I): ##STR5##comprise one or both of the 9/10 or 13/14 positions, wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an OH group or a OR.sup.2 group, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or a group corresponding to formula (II): ##STR6##wherein R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing 1 to 21 carbon atoms or an alkylene group containing 2 to 21 carbon atoms; and(b) contacting the surface of a borehole, drilling equipment or drill cuttings with the cleaning additive.