Patent ID: 8691732

Claim:
A process, comprising: preventing the formation of a W/O inverse emulsion by injecting a water-based fluid into an oil well comprising an oil-based mud, thereby contacting the water-based fluid with the oil-based mud, which is present in the well as a residue or a filtrate from a porous matrix, wherein the water-based fluid, comprises water and: a non-ionic surfactant, which is stable in a temperature range from 10 to 90° C., has an HLB in a range from 8 to 20, and is soluble in water; and a salt, wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises a C 8 alkyl polyglucoside, a C 10 alkyl polyglucoside, or a mixture thereof, and wherein the salt is present, and is present in an amount up to 60% by weight, based on a total weight of the fluid.