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: Incorporating at least oil-soluble organic peroxide into a mixture of an aqueous phase and at least one surfactant creates a breaker fluid that is a microemulsion or a nanoemulsion that can then perform as an internal breaker for reducing the viscosity of aqueous fluids gelled with a polymer, such as a crosslinked polysaccharide. One phase of the breaker fluid is water or water-based, e.g. brine, containing at least one oil-soluble organic peroxide as a non-aqueous internal phase that will, over time and optionally with heat, break the polymer-gelled portion of the gel. The overall breaking using the breaker fluid is slower as compared to introducing the organic peroxide breaker in a non-microemulsified or non-nanoemulsified form.

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 cosolvent 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 magnetic polymers. Alternatively, a downhole fluid having magnetic polymers may be circulated within the wellbore to at least partially coat the wall of the wellbore with the magnetic polymers. A magnetic field may be applied to the wall of the wellbore having the magnetic polymer coating for allowing the magnetic polymers 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: 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.

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.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are configured to treat a drilling fluid to cause water droplets to coalesce. One or more phases are thereafter separated from the treated drilling fluid. The oil and/or solids separated from the treated drilling fluid may be added to a base fluid.

Abstract: Nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor III) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) may be formed in situ during hydrocarbon recovery operations after drilling with OBM or SBM using one or more fluid pills. The nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsions remove oil and solids from the well and wellbore surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, a single phase microemulsion (SPME) or other in situ-formed fluid may be created from a polar phase, a nonpolar phase, at least one viscosifier, and at least one surfactant.

Abstract: A system for treating drill cuttings may include a first stage that receives the drill cuttings and generates a first drill cuttings slurry and a second stage that receives the first drill cuttings slurry and generates solids. The first stage may include a mixer receiving at least one additive from at least one treatment fluid supply. The mixer mixes the at least one additive with the drill cuttings to form a drill cuttings mixture and reduces the drill cuttings to a predetermined size. The first stage also includes a separator receiving the drill cutting mixture. The separator separates liquids from solids in the drill cuttings mixture to form the first drill cuttings slurry. The second stage may include a mixer that mixes a cleaning fluid from a second treatment fluid supply with the drill cuttings to form a second drill cuttings mixture. The second stage may also include a separator receiving the second drill cutting mixture.

Abstract: Nanomaterial compositions are useful for applications in drilling and completion fluids as enhancers of electrical and thermal conductivity, emulsion stabilizers, wellbore strength improvers, drag reduction agents, wettability changers, corrosion coating compositions and the like These nanomaterials may be dispersed in the liquid phase in low volumetric fraction, particularly as compared to corresponding agents of larger size. Nanofluids (fluids containing nano-sized particles) may be used to drill at least part of the wellbore. Nanofluids for drilling and completion applications may be designed including nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes. These fluids containing nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, meet the required rheological and filtration properties for application in challenging HPHT drilling and completions operations.

Abstract: Nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor III) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) may be formed in situ during hydrocarbon recovery operations after drilling with OBM or SBM using one or more fluid pills. The nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsions remove oil and solids from the well and wellbore surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, a single phase microemulsion (SPME) or other in situ-formed fluid may be created from a polar phase, a nonpolar phase, at least one viscosifier, and at least one surfactant.

Abstract: Gas-core microstructures, such as microbubbles, may be used in drilling and completion operations in the exploration and production of hydrocarbon fluids (e.g. oil and gas) from subterranean formations. The gas-core microstructures are dispersed in a base fluid such as water, oil or emulsions of water and oil, in accordance with the specific performance needs. Applications for fluids containing these gas-core microstructures include, but are not necessarily limited to, use as a spacers to control trapped annular pressure, use as low density drilling fluids, use as dual gradient drilling fluids and the delivery of chemicals downhole.

Abstract: Nanomaterial compositions are useful for applications in drilling and completion fluids as enhancers of electrical and thermal conductivity, emulsion stabilizers, wellbore strength improvers, drag reduction agents, wettability changers, corrosion coating compositions and the like. These nanomaterials may be dispersed in the liquid phase in low volumetric fraction, particularly as compared to corresponding agents of larger size. Nanofluids (fluids containing nano-sized particles) may be used to drill at least part of the wellbore. Nanofluids for drilling and completion applications may be designed including nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes. These fluids containing nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, meet the required rheological and filtration properties for application in challenging HPHT drilling and completions operations.

Abstract: Nanoemulsions have been discovered to be useful to the oil field. More particularly water-in-oil (W/O), oil-in-water (O/W) and other classes of nanoemulsions have found beneficial application in drilling, completion, well remediation and other oil and gas industry related operations. Additionally, nanoemulsions may reduce friction pressure losses, as well as reduce subsidence of solid weight material during oil and gas operations. New preparation methods for nanoemulsions have also been discovered.

Abstract: Contacting the wellbore with a fluid composition and forming a metallic powder barrier at or near the tip of a fracture extending from the wellbore into a subterranean formation may strengthen a wellbore. The fluid composition may include a base fluid and a metallic powder having a plurality of metallic powder particles. The base fluid may include a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, a servicing fluid, a fracturing fluid, and mixtures thereof. The metallic powder particles may have a particle core and a metallic coating layer. The particle core may include a core material selected, such as magnesium, zinc, aluminum, manganese, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, iron, cobalt, silicon, nitride, tungsten, and a combination thereof. The metallic coating layer may be disposed on the particle core thereby forming a metallic powder particle. The metallic powder particles may be configured for solid-state sintering to one another to form the metallic particle compacts.

Abstract: Incorporating at least oil-soluble organic peroxide into a mixture of an aqueous phase and at least one surfactant creates a breaker fluid that is a microemulsion or a nanoemulsion that can then perform as an internal breaker for reducing the viscosity of aqueous fluids gelled with a polymer, such as a crosslinked polysaccharide. One phase of the breaker fluid is water or water-based, e.g. brine, containing at least one oil-soluble organic peroxide as a non-aqueous internal phase that will, over time and optionally with heat, break the polymer-gelled portion of the gel. The overall breaking using the breaker fluid is slower as compared to introducing the organic peroxide breaker in a non-microemulsified or non-nanoemulsified form.

Abstract: A method for delaying the removal of a majority of an oil-based mud (OBM) filter cake from a hydrocarbon reservoir wellbore that utilizes a multiple phase composition is described. The use of the multiple phase composition allows for a microemulsion, a miniemulsion, or a nanoemulsion to form in situ downhole at a controllable time. The method includes pumping the multiple phase composition comprising an additive into the wellbore. The multiple phase composition may be broken thereby releasing the additive. The broken multiple phase composition and the additive may contact the OBM filter cake particles to form an in situ emulsion selected from the group consisting of a nanoemulsion, a miniemulsion, a microemulsion, a multiple emulsion, a water-continuous emulsion and mixtures thereof. The in situ emulsion may incorporate more of the external oil from the OBM filter cake in order to more easily remove the OBM filter cake.

Abstract: Nanoemulsions have been discovered to be useful to the oil field. More particularly water-in-oil (W/O), oil-in-water (O/W) and other classes of nanoemulsions have found beneficial application in drilling, completion, well remediation and other oil and gas industry related operations. Additionally, nanoemulsions may reduce friction pressure losses, as well as reduce subsidence of solid weight material during oil and gas operations. New preparation methods for nanoemulsions have also been discovered.

Abstract: Nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor III) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) may be pre-formed and used as one or more fluid pills during hydrocarbon recovery operations after drilling with OBM or SBM. The nanoemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsions remove oil and solids from the well and wellbore surfaces. In one non-limiting embodiment, a single phase microemulsion (SPME) or other pre-formed fluid may be created from a polar phase, a nonpolar phase, an optional viscosifier, and at least one surfactant.

Abstract: Fluids containing liquid crystal-forming surfactants or polymeric surfactants, or polymers, or complex polymers or copolymers, or graphite nanotubes or Janus particles in a polar and/or non polar liquid, and optionally, co-surfactants, are useful in drilling, completion and production operations to give increased viscosity (solids suspension ability) and/or decreased fluid loss, as compared to otherwise identical fluids absent the liquid crystals. These liquid crystal compositions contain organized micelles. The liquid crystal-containing fluids are useful in completion fluids, fracturing fluids, formation damage remediation, waste management, lost circulation, drilling optimization, reducing trapped annular pressure during the hydrocarbon production process, well strengthening, friction and drag reducers, fluids introduced through an injection well, for geothermal wells, and the controlled release of additives into a wellbore, at a subterranean formation or at the oil production facilities.