Drilling fluids

Claim 2

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids to which has been added a water soluble additive, said additive being the sulfomethylated condensate reaction product of phenolic material, a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid and formaldehyde, said phenolic material being selected from the group consisting of at least one of phenol, cresol, xylenol, tar acid and "phenol bottoms"; said additive being present in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture.

Claim 3

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, tar acid and "phenol bottoms", (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 6 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.25 to 0.75 mols per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water.

Claim 4

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, tar acid and "phenol bottoms", (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 6 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.25 to 0.75 mols per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water.

Claim 5

The fluid of claim 2 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 6

The fluid of claim 2 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 7

The fluid of claim 4 wherein the amount of formaldehyde is in the range of 1 to 3 mols per mol of phenolic material.

Claim 8

The fluid of claim 2 wherein said reaction product also includes as item (iv) from 0.1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the item (iv) material being added during the formation of said reaction product after said phenolic material, said salt or salts and said formaldehyde have been at least partially reacted.

Claim 9

The fluid of claim 6 wherein said item (iv) is urea.

Claim 10

The fluid of claim 6 wherein said item (iv) is salicylic acid.

Claim 11

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of about 0.5 mol per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water.

Claim 12

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of about 0.5 mol per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water.

Claim 13

The fluid of claim 9 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 14

The fluid of claim 9 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 15

The fluid of claim 9 wherein said reaction product also includes as item (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the item (iv) material being added during the formation of said reaction product after said phenolic material, said salt or salts and said formaldehyde have been at least partially reacted.

Claim 16

The fluid of claim 12 wherein said item (iv) is urea.

Claim 17

The fluid of claim 12 wherein said item (iv) is salicylic acid.

Claim 18

The fluid of claim 9 wherein the additive includes a dispersant for the clay solids in the fluid, said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated lignite and (ii) an oxidized salt of a sulfonated lignin material wherein the salt has at least one cation selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, copper and aluminum.

Claim 19

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material, (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.1 to 2 mols per mol of said phenolic material, and (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water and item (iv) being added during the reaction of items (i), (ii) and (iii) after said items (i), (ii) and (iii) have been at least partially reacted, and water soluble sulfonated lignite in amount of from 10:1 to 1:10 weight ratio of said lignite to said reaction product.

Claim 20

A water base drilling, workover or completion fluid comprising a base mixture of water and clay solids, and a fluid loss control additive in a small but effective amount sufficient to reduce the fluid loss of said base mixture, said additive comprising a sulfomethylated phenolic material and being the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material, (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.1 to 2 mols per mol of said phenolic material, and (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water and item (iv) being added during the reaction of items (i), (ii) and (iii) after said items (i), (ii) and (iii) have been at least partially reacted, and water soluble sulfonated lignite in amount of from 10:1 to 1:10 weight ratio of said lignite to said reaction product.

Claim 21

The fluid of claim 16 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise a mixture of alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 22

The fluid of claim 16 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 23

The fluid of claim 18 wherein item (iv) is urea.

Claim 24

The fluid of claim 18 wherein said item (iv) is salicylic acid.

Claim 25

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising a drilling mud dispersant and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, tar acid and "phenol bottoms", (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 6 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.25 to 0.75 mols per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water; said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated lignite and (ii) an oxidized salt of a sulfonated lignin material wherein the salt has at least one cation selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, copper and aluminum, the weight ratio of the dispersant to the reaction product being in the range of 10:1 to 1:10.

Claim 26

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising a drilling mud dispersant and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, tar acid and "phenol bottoms", (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 6 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.25 to 0.75 mols per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water; said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated lignite and (ii) an oxidized salt of a sulfonated lignin material wherein the salt has at least one cation selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, copper and aluminum, the weight ratio of the dispersant to the reaction product being in the range of 10:1 to 1:10.

Claim 27

The composition of claim 21 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 28

The composition of claim 21 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 29

The composition of claim 23 wherein the amount of formaldehyde is in the range of 1 to 3 mols per mol of phenolic material.

Claim 30

The composition of claim 21 wherein said reaction product also includes as item (iv) from 0.1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the item (iv) material being added during the formation of said reaction product after said phenolic material, said salt or salts and said formaldehyde have been at least partially reacted.

Claim 31

The composition of claim 25 wherein said item (iv) is urea.

Claim 32

The composition of claim 25 wherein said item (iv) is salicylic acid.

Claim 33

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising a drilling mud dispersant and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of about 0.5 mol per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water; said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated lignite and (ii) an oxidized salt of a sulfonated lignin material wherein the salt has at least one cation selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, copper and aluminum, the weight ratio of the dispersant to the reaction product being in the range of 10:1 to 1:10.

Claim 34

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising a drilling mud dispersant and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material and (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of about 0.5 mol per mol of said phenolic material, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water; said dispersant being selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated lignite and (ii) an oxidized salt of a sulfonated lignin material wherein the salt has at least one cation selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium, copper and aluminum, the weight ratio of the dispersant to the reaction product being in the range of 10:1 to 1:10.

Claim 35

The composition of claim 28 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 36

The composition of claim 28 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 37

The composition of claim 28 wherein said reaction product also includes as item (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the item (iv) material being added during the formation of said reaction product after said phenolic material, said salt or salts and said formaldehyde have been at least partially reacted.

Claim 38

The composition of claim 31 wherein said item (iv) is urea.

Claim 39

The composition of claim 31 wherein said item (iv) is salicylic acid.

Claim 40

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising water soluble sulfonated lignite and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material, (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.1 to 2 mols per mol of said phenolic material, and (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water and item (iv) being added during the reaction of items (i), (ii) and (iii) after said items (i), (ii) and (iii) have been at least partially reacted; the lignite being in an amount of from 10:1 to 1:10 weight ratio of said lignite to said reaction product.

Claim 41

A composition of matter for use as an additive to a water base drilling, workover or completion fluid to reduce the fluid loss of such fluid comprising water soluble sulfonated lignite and a sulfomethylated phenolic material which is the reaction product of (i) a phenolic material of at least one of the group consisting of phenol, cresol, xylenol, and tar acid, (ii) formaldehyde in an amount of 1 to 3 mols per mol of said phenolic material, (iii) a water soluble salt or salts of sulfurous acid in an amount of 0.1 to 2 mols per mol of said phenolic material, and (iv) a small amount but less than 1 mol per mol of said phenolic material of at least one material selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, maleic acid or the corresponding anhydrides of such acids, the reaction of such reactants being terminated before it has proceeded to the point that the reaction product becomes insoluble in water and item (iv) being added during the reaction of items (i), (ii) and (iii) after said items (i), (ii) and (iii) have been at least partially reacted; the lignite being in an amount of from 10:1 to 1:10 weight ratio of said lignite to said reaction product.

Claim 42

The composition of claim 34 wherein said salts of sulfurous acid comprise a mixture of alkali metal sulfite and bisulfite.

Claim 43

The composition of claim 34 wherein said phenolic material is phenol.

Claim 44

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 1.

Claim 45

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 2.

Claim 46

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 3.

Claim 47

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 4.

Claim 48

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 5.

Claim 49

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 6.

Claim 50

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 7.

Claim 51

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 8.

Claim 52

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 9.

Claim 53

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 10.

Claim 54

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 11.

Claim 55

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 12.

Claim 56

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 13.

Claim 57

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 14.

Claim 58

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 15.

Claim 59

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 16.

Claim 60

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 17.

Claim 61

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 18.

Claim 62

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprsing circulating in said well the fluid of claim 19.

Claim 63

In a process of drilling a well which comprises the steps of performing a drilling operation in the well with a tool for performing such operation and circulating a fluid in the well while performing such an operation, the improvement comprising circulating in said well the fluid of claim 20.