Esters of carboxylic acids of medium chain-length as a component of the oil phase in invert drilling muds

US5403822A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Heinz Mueller · Monheim, DE
• Claus-Peter Herold · Mettmann, DE
• Stephan von Tapavicza · Erkrath, DE
• Michael Neuss · Cologne, DE
• Wolfgang Zoellner · Goldkronach, DE
• Frank Burbach · Osterath, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 27, 1993
• Grant date: Apr 4, 1995
• Expiry date: May 27, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C09K8/34
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention describes the use of selected esters, fluid at room temperature and with flash points above 80.degree. C., from monocarboxylic acids of synthetic and/or natural origin with 6 to 11 carbon atoms and mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols as the oil phase or a component of the oil phase of invert drilling muds, which are suitable for environment-friendly development of petroleum and natural gas deposits and in a continuous oil phase contain a dispersed aqueous phase together with emulsifiers, weighting agents, fluid-loss additives and preferably further conventional additives. In a further embodiment the invention relates to invert-drilling fluids of the types mentioned, which are characterized in that the oil phase contains esters of monocarboxylic acids of synthetic and/or natural origin with 6 to 11 carbon atoms and with mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols preferably in admixture with other components from the class of ecologically acceptable compounds.