| Salt water drilling mud and method
A salt water drilling mud comprising a mixture salt water, a solid
phase such as pre-hydrated bentonite, attapulgite, sepiolite, and
extended bentonite, among others and optionally a synthetic oil, which
is mixed with at least one of five different modules. A first module
contains caustic, a natural wax and a natural thinner. A second module
contains components of the first module and an alkali metal aluminate
prepared by reacting the first module with aluminum metal. A third
module contains the components of the first module and an alkali metal
phosphate and/or alkali metal silicate. A fourth module contains the
components of the first module, a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic
acid source, a surfactant, and a preservative. The fifth module contains
a combination of the first, third and fourth modules.
Barium compound-containing thickening agent and drilling
fluids made therefrom
A drilling fluid comprises uncalcined colloidal attapulgite clay and
up to about 10% by weight (of the weight of attapulgite clay) of a
barium compound additive such as BaO or Ba(OH).sub.2. The admixture
of clay and barium compound may be slurried in either fresh or salt
water to provide an aqueous drilling fluid of significantly higher
yield than that attainable with prior art drilling fluids. |