US 11,807,801 B2
Drilling fluids and methods of making and using thereof
Mohammed K. Al-Arfaj, Dammam (SA); and Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Dhahran (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Mar. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/198,814.
Prior Publication US 2022/0290030 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. C09K 8/16 (2006.01); E21B 43/25 (2006.01)
CPC C09K 8/16 (2013.01) [E21B 43/25 (2013.01); C09K 2208/12 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of producing a drilling fluid, the method comprising:
reacting silica with glutamate and glycol, thereby forming a shale inhibitor comprising silica grafted with glutamate-glycol; and
mixing an aqueous base fluid, the shale inhibitor, and at least one of a clay material or a mud to produce the drilling fluid, and wherein
the drilling fluid does not comprise KCl, has a shale cutting recovery rate from 65% to 99%, and has an anti-swelling capacity from 55% to 99%.