Patent ID: 8592349

Claim:
A method for inhibiting the agglomeration and settling of salt in an aqueous drilling fluid comprising: providing an aqueous drilling fluid made by a process comprising: adding to water: at least one weighting agent, at least one viscosifying agent, and at least one salt agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent present in a proportion of 13 wt % or less based on the total drilling fluid effective to inhibit the settling of the salt, where the salt agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent is selected from the group consisting of steepwater solubles, whey, wine-making residues and combinations thereof; the adding to water occurs before, during or after the addition of the at least one salt, and where the at least one salt agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent is present in a proportion of from 1.0 volume % to about 13 volume % based on the total drilling fluid; and pumping the aqueous drilling fluid down a well and where the drilling fluid has a reduced tendency for the salt to settle out as compared with an otherwise identical fluid absent the salt agglomeration and settling inhibiting agent.