Water-based drilling fluids containing crosslinked polyacrylic acid

摘要

A water-based drilling fluid containing high molecular weight crosslinked polyacrylic acid as viscosifying agent exhibits stability at well temperatures in excess of 150° C. The drilling fluid may further contain a lubricant, weighting agent and/or a wetting agent as well as laponite clay. The aqueous based drilling fluid exhibits a coefficient of friction which is substantially close to the coefficient of friction of oil based drilling muds.