Drilling fluid comprising desugared molasses solids and alkyl glycoside

摘要

A drilling fluid comprises a liquid and desugared molasses solids, where the liquid is water, water-miscible liquid or a mixtures thereof. The desugared molasses inhibit shale swelling and function as a borehole stability agent. The drilling fluid may also contain an alkyl glycoside, selected from among the methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl glycosides of glucose, maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose. The alkyl glycoside is most preferably methyl glucoside. Optionally the fluid includes further borehole stability agents, such as a maltodextrin, a carboxyalkyl starch, a hemicellulose-containing material, or mixture of these. Also disclosed are a drilling apparatus and process using a drilling fluid comprising desugared molasses solids.