Hydrated hydroxyethyl cellulose compositions

Claim 1

A viscosifying composition which will hydrate in and viscosify heavy brines having a density greater than about 13.5 ppg at ambient temperature which consists essentially of from about 35% to about 55% by weight of an oleaginous liquid which is a liquid aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, from about 0.25% to about 3% by weight based on said oleaginous liquid of a compatibilizing agent comprising an organophilic clay, from about 15% to about 55% of an aqueous phase comprising water and an inorganic salt which has exothermic heat of solution wherein the concentration of said inorganic salt is greater than about 10% by weight of said aqueous phase, from about 10% to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, and from about 20% to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of said organophilic clay, of a dispersant selected from the class consisting of aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 2 carbon atom ketones having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 7

A method of activating hydroxyethyl cellulose, such that said hydroxyethyl cellulose will hydrate in heavy brines having a density greater than about 13.5 ppg at ambient temperatures which comprises admixing from about 35% to about 55% of an oleaginous liquid which is a liquid aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, from about 0.25% to about 3% by weight based on said oleaginous liquid of a compatibilizing agent comprising an organophilic clay, and from 20% to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of said organophilic clay, of a dispersant selected from the class consisting of aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 2 carbon atom ketones having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, together to form a viscous slurry, admixing therewith from about 15% to about 55% of an aqueous phase comprising water and an inorganic salt which has an exothermic heat of solution, wherein the concentration of said inorganic salt is greater than about 10% by weight of said aqueous phase, said water being added first followed by the addition of said inorganic salt, and thereafter admixing from about 10% to about 30% by weight hydroxyethyl cellulose to form a viscous pourable composition.

Claim 8

A method of activating hydroxyethyl cellulose, such that said hydroxyethyl cellulose will hydrate in heavy brines having a density greater than about 13.5 ppg at ambient temperatures which comprises admixing from about 35% to about 55% of an oleaginous liquid which is a liquid aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon, from about 0.25% to about 3% by weight based on said oleaginous liquid of a compatibilizing agent comprising an organophilic clay, and from 20% to about 40% by weight, based on the weight of said organophilic clay, of a dispersant selected from the class consisting of aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 2 carbon atom ketones having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof, together to form a viscous slurry, admixing therewith from about 15% to about 55% of an aqueous phase comprising water and an inorganic salt which has an exothermic heat of solution, wherein the concentration of said inorganic salt is greater than about 10% by weight of said aqueous phase, said water being added first followed by the addition of said inorganic salt, and thereafter admixing from about 10% to about 30% by weight hydroxyethyl cellulose to form a viscous pourable composition.