Drilling fluids: Score years of trends, innovations and implications in research

•Reviewed the top 32 cited research articles in the field (2018–2024).•Highlighted the chemistry of 32 different drilling fluids.•Conducted the bibliometric analysis on drilling fluids for last two decades.•First manuscript explaining both bibliometric analysis and review on drilling Fluids. Drilling fluids play a pivotal role in well construction, serving as the key components that maintain the structural integrity of the well during drilling. The management of these fluids has seen swift advancements in technology recently, allowing for enhanced planning of well construction. These advancements have led to drilling fluids with improved properties, which greatly affect the efficiency and total cost of drilling activities. They are employed in drilling operations to cool and lubricate the drill bit, control formation pressure, transport cuttings to the surface, and fortify the stability of the wellbore. Recognizing their significance in the petroleum industry, the authors have conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on drilling fluids. A thorough screening yielded 9,535 pertinent studies from Scopus over the past twenty years. Tools such as Office 365 VOS viewer and RStudio were used to analyse the metadata of these studies. The findings indicate a marked increase in drilling fluid research over this period. This study particularly identifies 150 noteworthy collaborations between China and the United States of America. These collaborations are probably a result of their respective large-scale oil and gas operations, sophisticated research facilities, and mutual dedication to the growth of petroleum industry technology. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation of the top 32 cited articles produced between 2018 and 2024 has been conducted, and their significance in the area has been rigorously examined and evaluated.