Mixed metal hydroxide-clay adducts as thickeners for water and other hydrophylic fluids

摘要

Novel compositions useful as fluid gelling agents, especially for use in subterranean applications such as drilling fluids, are prepared by reacting an aqueous dispersion of a clay, such as bentonite, with an aqueous gel of a monodispersed mixed metal layered hydroxide of the formula LimDdT(OH)(m+2d+3+na)Ana.H2O, where x is zero or more representing excess water of hydration, where D is a divalent metal, such as Mg, T is a trivalent metal, such as Al, and A represents other monovalent or polyvalent anions, the formula being described in detail in the disclosure.