ERIC DAVIS
Architects in Houston, TX

6609578, Aug 26, 2003

Jun 18, 2001

09/884013

Arvind D. Patel - Sugar Land TX
Emanual Stamatakis - Houston TX
Eric Davis - Houston TX

Mo M-I LLC - Houston TX

B09K 100

175 64, 175 66, 175 72, 40512925, 4051293, 40512935, 507111, 507133, 507246, 507269, 507925

A water-base fluid for use in drilling wells and other drilling operation includes a shale which swells in the presence of water. The fluid preferably includes: an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: in which R and R′ are alkylene groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and x is a value from about 1 to about 25. The Y group should be an amine or alkoxy group, preferably a primary amine or a methoxy group. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in sufficient concentration to reduce the swelling of the shale. The fluid may be used for formulating drilling fluids such as invert emulsion drilling muds or clear brine drilling fluids. The fluid may also be used in the slurrification and disposal of drill cuttings that contain water swellable clays or shales.

6857485, Feb 22, 2005

Jul 15, 2002

10/195686

Arvind D. Patel - Sugar Land TX, US
Emanuel Stamatakis - Houston TX, US
Eric Davis - Houston TX, US
Steve Cliffe - Stonehaven, GB

M-I LLC - Houston TX

E21B021/00, C09K007/02

175 64, 175 65, 175 72, 507133, 507140, 507145, 507905

A water-base drilling fluid for use in drilling wells through a formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The drilling fluid preferably includes: an aqueous based continuous phase, a weight material, and a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: HN—R—{OR′}—Y. [HB] in which R and R′ are alkylene groups having 1 to 6 carbon atom and x is a value from about 1 to about 25. The Y group should be an amine or alkoxy group, preferably a primary amine or a methoxy group. The acid HB is a protic acid selected from the group consisting of inorganic acids and organic acids, illustrative examples of which include: hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric, boric, perchloric, formic, acetic, halogenated acetic, propionic, butyric, maleic, fumeric, glycolic, lactic, citric and combinations of these. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in sufficient concentration to reduce the swelling of the shale. Also inclusive of the present invention is a method of reducing the swelling of shale clay encountered during the drilling of a subterranean well, the method comprising circulating in the well a water-base drilling fluid formulated in accordance with the present invention.

6831043, Dec 14, 2004

Jan 31, 2002

10/062071

Arvind D. Patel - Sugar Land TX
Emanuel Stamatakis - Houston TX
Eric Davis - Houston TX
Jim Friedheim - Spring TX

M-I LLC - Houston TX

C09K 702

507133, 507246, 507111, 507212, 175 64

A water-base fluid for use in drilling wells and other drilling operation includes a shale clay which swells in the presence of water. The fluid preferably includes: an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: wherein R and R′ are independently selectable alkylene groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and wherein x and y have independently selected values such that the sum of x and y is at least 1. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in sufficient concentration to reduce the swelling of the shale clay. The fluid may be used for formulating drilling fluids such as water-base drilling muds or clear brine drilling fluids. The fluid may also be used in the slurrification and disposal of drill cuttings that contain water swellable clays or shale clays.

7250390, Jul 31, 2007

Dec 9, 2004

11/008008

Arvind D. Patel - Sugar Land TX, US
Emanuel Stamatakis - Houston TX, US
Eric Davis - Houston TX, US
Jim Friedheim - Spring TX, US

M-I L.L.C. - Houston TX

C09K 8/04

507133, 507246

A water-base fluid for use in drilling wells and other drilling operation includes a shale clay which swells in the presence of water. The fluid preferably includes: an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: H—(OR)—[—NH—CH—CH—CH—O—CH—CH—NH—]—(R′O)—H.

7094738, Aug 22, 2006

Sep 9, 2004

10/937127

Arvind D. Patel - Sugarland TX, US
Eric Davis - Houston TX, US
Steven Young - Cypress TX, US
Emanuel Stamatakis - Houston TX, US

M-I L.L.C. - Houston TX

C04B 7/42, C09K 8/22, C09K 8/36

507128, 507129, 507131, 507139, 507140, 507141, 507145, 1663051

A method of improving the lubricity of an aqueous based drilling fluid composed of an aqueous base fluid, and a weighting agent. The method involves the addition of an effective amount of a phospholipid to substantially reduce the coefficient of friction when compared to the fluid absent the phospholipids. Preferably the phospholipids have the structure:.