LUBRICANTS AND WELLBORE FLUIDS
Provided are wellbore fluids comprising an oleaginous microbial cell and methods of using and making such fluids.
1 . A fluid for use in a wellbore operation, the fluid comprising water, an oleaginous microbial cell, and a solvent, and optionally one or more of a surfactant, alcohol, demulsifier, or combinations thereof.
2 . The fluid of claim 1 , comprising a surfactant and an alcohol.
3 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is an ester or a terpene.
4 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is ethyl lactate.
5 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is d-limonene.
6 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is a fatty acid soap.
7 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, or polyethylene glycol or combinations thereof.
8 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is isopropanol.
9 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant and solvent together form a microemulsion.
10 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the microbial cell is an oleaginous bacteria, yeast, or microalgae.
11 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the microbial cell is obtained from a heterotrophic oleaginous microalgae.
12 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the microbial cell is obtained from Parachlorella, Prototheca , or Chlorella.
13 . The fluid of claim 1 , wherein the microbial cell is obtained from Prototheca moriformis.
14 . A method of conducting a wellbore operation, the method comprising introducing into the wellbore a fluid of claim 1 .
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the wellbore operation is a drilling, completion, stimulation, hydraulic fracturing, acidification, sand control, or workover operation.