DRILLING AND FRACTURING FLUIDS COMPRISING ESTOLIDE COMPOUNDS
Drilling fluid and fracturing fluid compositions comprising estolide base oils. Exemplary drilling and fracturing fluid comprise an estolide base oil and at least one additive.
1 - 93 . (canceled)
94 . A method comprising:
drilling a well in the presence of a composition comprising an estolide base oil, wherein the estolide base oil exhibits a kinematic viscosity equal to or less than 5 cSt at 100° C. and an EN less than or equal to 1.3.
95 . The method according to claim 94 , further comprising at least one emulsifier.
96 . The method according to claim 94 , further comprising at least one weighting agent.
97 . The method according to claim 94 , further comprising at least one viscosifier.
98 . The method according to claim 94 , further comprising at least one aqueous component.
99 . The method according to claim 98 , wherein the composition comprises an emulsion.
100 . The method according to claim 94 , wherein the estolide base oil comprises at least one estolide compound selected from Formula I:
wherein
x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;
y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 0 to 20;
n is an integer greater than or equal to 0;
R 1 is an optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and
R 2 is selected from hydrogen and an optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,
wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said at least one estolide compound is independently optionally substituted.
101 . The method according to claim 100 , wherein
x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 1 to 10;
y is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 1 to 10;
n is an integer selected from 0 to 8;
R 1 is an optionally substituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and
R 2 is an optionally substituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched,
wherein each fatty acid chain residue is unsubstituted.
102 . The method according to claim 101 , wherein
x+y is, independently for each chain, an integer selected from 13 to 15; and
n is an integer selected from 0 to 6.
103 . The method according to claim 101 , wherein R 1 is unsubstituted, unbranched, and saturated.
104 . The method according to claim 101 , wherein R 2 is unsubstituted, branched, and saturated.
105 . The method according to claim 100 , wherein each fatty acid chain residue of said at least one estolide compound is unsubstituted.
106 . The method according to claim 105 , wherein x is, independently for each occurrence, an integer selected from 7 and 8.
107 . The method according to claim 106 , wherein y is 0 for each occurrence.
108 . The method according to claim 107 , wherein R 1 is an unbranched C 7 to C 17 alkyl that is saturated and unsubstituted.
109 . The method according to claim 108 , wherein R 1 is a C 9 alkyl.
110 . The method according to claim 108 , wherein R 1 is a C 10 alkyl.
111 . The method according to claim 108 , wherein R 2 is an unsubstituted C 1 to C 22 alkyl that is saturated and branched or unbranched.
112 . The method according to claim 111 , wherein R 2 is a branched C 6 to C 12 alkyl.
113 . The method according to claim 112 , wherein R 2 is 2-ethylhexyl.
114 . The method according to claim 111 , wherein n is 0.