Publications

An innovative drilling fluid additive has been developed which provides filtration control and rheological stability in water-based fluids under hostile conditions. This additive is a water-soluble sulfomethylated phenolic resin (SPR) which controls filtration without increasing the viscosity of the base fluid. A drilling fluid system has been formulated incorporating this additive as an alternative to systems using chromium-containing additives for thermal stability. SPR and its companion system are environmentally acceptable, have applications in high temperature or hostile environments, and can be formulated to provide high density fluids. Field usage has demonstrated the remarkable performance of the new SPR additive and system.