Abstract: It has been discovered that solid contaminants in a mixture of a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase may be retained in the hydrocarbon phase by introducing to the mixture an effective amount of an oil-wetting additive to retain at least a portion of the solid contaminants in the hydrocarbon phase as contrasted with an aqueous phase. The oil-wetting additive can be a surface-active additive including, but is not necessarily limited to, drilling fluid additives, surfactants, antifoulants, nanoparticles and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods can include introducing a cleaning fluid into a near-wellbore zone of an injection well penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the cleaning fluid includes: 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid; and dispersing a hydrocarbon from the near-wellbore zone in the cleaning fluid. Compositions for cleaning a near-wellbore zone of a subterranean formation can include 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid.

Abstract: It has been discovered that solid contaminants in a mixture of a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase may be retained in the hydrocarbon phase by introducing to the mixture an effective amount of an oil-wetting additive to retain at least a portion of the solid contaminants in the hydrocarbon phase as contrasted with an aqueous phase. The oil-wetting additive can be a surface-active additive including, but is not necessarily limited to, drilling fluid additives, surfactants, antifoulants, nanoparticles and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods can include introducing a cleaning fluid into a near-wellbore zone of an injection well penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the cleaning fluid includes: 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid; and dispersing a hydrocarbon from the near-wellbore zone in the cleaning fluid. Compositions for cleaning a near-wellbore zone of a subterranean formation can include 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid.

Abstract: Methods can include introducing a cleaning fluid into a near-wellbore zone of an injection well penetrating a subterranean formation, wherein the cleaning fluid includes: 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid; and dispersing a hydrocarbon from the near-wellbore zone in the cleaning fluid. Compositions for cleaning a near-wellbore zone of a subterranean formation can include 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % of a surfactant blend comprising an alkoxy carbonate surfactant and an internal olefin sulfonate surfactant; salt water having a total dissolved solids (TDS) of about 15,000 mg/L or greater; and 0 wt % to about 0.05 wt % of an organic acid.

Abstract: A single-phase microemulsion additive may be introduced to a stream containing mixtures of or emulsions of oil and water in an effective amount to separate oil from the water in the stream and/or separating water from the oil in the stream. The single-phase microemulsion additive is formed by combining at least one demulsifier, at least one water clarifier, at least one surfactant, and optionally at least one solvent.

Abstract: A single-phase microemulsion additive may be introduced to a stream containing mixtures of or emulsions of oil and water in an effective amount to separate oil from the water in the stream and/or separating water from the oil in the stream. The single-phase microemulsion additive is formed by combining at least one demulsifier, at least one water clarifier, at least one surfactant, and optionally at least one solvent.

Abstract: A method of enhancing oil or gas production comprises injecting into a well penetrating a subterranean formation a pre-flush fluid to increase water wettability of the well, the subterranean formation, a flowline, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and injecting into the well a foamer composition.

Abstract: A method of providing an optimal surfactant blend to improve waterflood efficiency comprises selecting candidate surfactant blends based on one or more of the following: a reservoir condition; information of a crude oil; information of an injection fluid; or information of a formation fluid, each candidate surfactant blends comprising at least two surfactants, one surfactant having a higher relative affinity for the crude oil than for the injection fluid and at least one surfactant having a higher affinity for the injection fluid than for the crude oil; evaluating phase behavior of the candidate surfactant blends to select surfactant blends that form a Winsor III system with the crude oil and the injection fluid at a reservoir temperature; and evaluating the selected surfactant blends in a porous media to select an optimal surfactant blend which achieves at least an additional 10% crude oil recovery after waterflood.

Abstract: Both organic deposits and inorganic deposits in a wellbore are simultaneously removed from a wellbore by contacting the deposits with a single phase fluid for an amount of time effective to simultaneously disperse the organic deposits and dissolve the inorganic deposits, where the single phase fluid includes least one solvent, at least one surfactant, at least one co-solvent, and at least one scale dissolver. The method further involves at least partially removing the organic deposits and inorganic deposits from the wellbore. In an embodiment where it is not necessary to remove inorganic deposits, the scale dissolver may be omitted.

Abstract: An extended alkoxylated sulfate surfactant or alkyl propoxylated sulfate surfactant is used in combination with a secondary surfactant (co-surfactant) in a formulation to increase the oil recovery from crude oil reservoirs, the formulation being an appropriate combination of the extended alkoxylated sulfate surfactant or alkyl propoxylated sulfate surfactant with the secondary surfactant in a formulation of alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP).

Abstract: A method for improving mobility of heavy crude oil in a subterranean reservoir is provided. A fluid formulation can be introduced into the reservoir, the fluid formulation comprising water and a surfactant, and optional co-solvents. The fluid formulation can produce one or more of a dispersion and an emulsion in the reservoir, whereby the surfactant acts as an dispersant or emulsifying agent, emulsifier and/or drag reducing agent. The emulsion or the dispersion can have a water external phase and a crude oil internal phase.

Abstract: A method of providing an optimal surfactant blend to improve waterflood efficiency comprises selecting candidate surfactant blends based on one or more of the following: a reservoir condition; information of a crude oil; information of an injection fluid; or information of a formation fluid, each candidate surfactant blends comprising at least two surfactants, one surfactant having a higher relative affinity for the crude oil than for the injection fluid and at least one surfactant having a higher affinity for the injection fluid than for the crude oil; evaluating phase behavior of the candidate surfactant blends to select surfactant blends that form a Winsor III system with the crude oil and the injection fluid at a reservoir temperature; and evaluating the selected surfactant blends in a porous media to select an optimal surfactant blend which achieves at least an additional 10% crude oil recovery after waterflood.

Abstract: A method of enhancing oil or gas production comprises injecting into a well penetrating a subterranean formation a pre-flush fluid to increase water wettability of the well, the subterranean formation, a flowline, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and injecting into the well a foamer composition.

Abstract: Mesophase surfactant solutions and/or micellar solutions, pre-formed single phase microemulsions (SPMEs), and in situ-formed fluids may be used to clean up and remove hydrocarbons and synthetic oils such as oil-based mud filter cake and near wellbore damage in oil and gas wells. Removal occurs by solubilization of the hydrocarbons and synthetic oils into the micellar solutions, SPME, in situ-formed fluids, etc. when the fluid formulation contacts the hydrocarbons and synthetic oils. An in situ-formed fluid (e.g. microemulsion), may be formed when one or more surfactant, an optional linker, optional co-surfactant, optional acid, optional co-solvent and a polar high-density brine phase, and eventually some amount of organic phase, contacts the subterranean location and solubilizes the hydrocarbons and synthetic oils encountered, such as in the near wellbore of a subterranean formation. The micellar solutions, microemulsions, in situ-formed fluids, etc.

Abstract: A wall of a subterranean reservoir wellbore may be at least partially coated with spheroid magnetic polymers. Alternatively, a downhole fluid having spheroid magnetic polymers may be circulated within the wellbore to at least partially coat the wall of the wellbore with the spheroid magnetic polymers. A magnetic field or electric field may be applied to the wall of the wellbore having the spheroid magnetic polymer coating forming a reversible pseudo-gel to improve hydrocarbon recovery and/or drilling performance by a method, such as but not limited to preventing or inhibiting lost circulation, improving or increasing rate of penetration (ROP), reducing frictional pressure during wellbore construction, preventing or inhibiting corrosion, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A treatment composition may contact an oil-based mud (OBM) filter cake formed over at least part of a wellbore for cleaning the filter cake by incorporating more oil and/or filter cake particles into the treatment composition as compared to an otherwise identical filter cake absent the treatment composition. The treatment composition may include, but is not limited to, a surfactant, an aqueous-based fluid, an agent, an optional second acid, and combinations thereof. The agent may be or include long chain alcohols, phenol derivatives, fatty esters, a first acid, and combinations thereof. The first acid may be or include a diacid. The diacid may be a polycarboxylic diacid, such as but not limited to [N-(1,2-dicarboxyethylene)D,L asparagine acid] (IDS), polyaspartic acid (DS), ethylenediamine-disuccinic acid (EDDS), [N,N-bis(carboxylmethyl)L-glutamic acid] (GLDA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), salts thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Pumping a pre-flush composition into a subterranean reservoir may contact at least a portion of non-polar material within a reservoir path. The pre-flush composition may have or include a polar fluid and at least one surfactant. The pre-flush composition may in situ form an in situ fluid in the reservoir path. The in situ formed fluid may include a portion of the non-polar material from the reservoir path, a polar phase from the polar fluid, and at least one surfactant. Pre-flushing the reservoir path may allow for greater hydrocarbon recovery when performing a subsequent operation as compared to an otherwise identical operation absent the pre-flushing the reservoir.

Abstract: Both organic deposits and inorganic deposits in a wellbore are simultaneously removed from a wellbore by contacting the deposits with a single phase fluid for an amount of time effective to simultaneously disperse the organic deposits and dissolve the inorganic deposits, where the single phase fluid includes least one solvent, at least one surfactant, at least one co-solvent, and at least one scale dissolver. The method further involves at least partially removing the organic deposits and inorganic deposits from the wellbore. In an embodiment where it is not necessary to remove inorganic deposits, the scale dissolver may be omitted.

Abstract: Working fluids, such as drilling fluids, may remove heat from other fluids, tools, equipments and environments and transfer it to other locations by using reversible phase change elements. The heat removal occurs through the absorption of heat by one or more phase transitions or a sequence of phase transitions in the elements of the working fluid. For instance, heat is absorbed when the phase change portions of the reversible phase change elements change phase including, but not necessarily limited to, a change from solid to smectic liquid crystal, from solid to nematic liquid crystal, from smectic liquid crystal to isotropic liquid, from nematic liquid crystal to isotropic liquid, from solid to isotropic liquid, and sequences and combinations thereof. Heat is released when the phase change reverses. These phase changes are first-order transitions and are associated with a latent heat or enthalpy.