Abstract: Compositions and methods for forming and using clusters of micron- and/or nano-sized solid materials (e.g., particulates, fibers, etc.) as proppants in subterranean operations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a fracturing fluid comprising a base fluid, a plurality of small-sized solid materials and one or more surface modifying agents; forming a plurality of proppant clusters, each proppant cluster comprising two or more of the small-sized solid materials bound together with a portion of the one or more surface modifying agents; and introducing the fracturing fluid into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in the portion of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods comprising: introducing a micro-proppant treatment fluid into a formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in a first treatment interval, wherein the micro-proppant treatment fluid comprises a first aqueous base fluid, micro-proppant particulates, and a first aqueous-based surface modification agent (“ASMA”); placing the micro-proppant particulates into the at least one fracture; introducing a surface modification treatment fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the surface modification treatment fluid comprises a second aqueous base fluid and a second ASMA; coating at least a portion of a face of the at least one fracture with the second ASMA; introducing a macro-proppant treatment fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the macro-proppant treatment fluid comprises a third base fluid and macro-proppant particulates; and placing the macro-proppant particulates into the at least one fracture.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of obtaining data from a subterranean formation and systems for performing the method. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of obtaining data from a subterranean formation including obtaining or providing first proppant particles and second proppant particles. The first proppant particles can have a particle size of about 0.2 mm to about 10 mm. The second proppant particles can have a particle size of about 0.010 ?m to about 199 ?m. The method can include placing the first and second proppant particles into a subterranean formation. In the subterranean formation, at least part of at least one of the first and second proppant particles can be electroconductive proppant particles. The method can include transmitting at least one of an electric current and an electromagnetic signal to at least part of the electroconductive proppant particles.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to subterranean operations and, more particularly, to fracturing a subterranean formation. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising: introducing into a wellbore penetrating a portion of a subterranean formation alternating intervals of a particulate-laden fluid comprising a plurality of particulates sized 100 U.S. mesh or smaller, and a treatment fluid comprising a lesser amount of particulates than the particulate-laden fluid; wherein the alternating intervals of the particulate-laden fluid and the treatment fluid are introduced into the wellbore at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow, from layered shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modeling movement of hydrocarbons through kerogen-related porosity, the movement through a first model volume; estimating a first permeability of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation based on the modeling; and modeling hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation. The modeling hydrocarbon production may include: utilizing the first permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation; and utilizing a second permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation, the second permeability different than the first permeability. In various cases the modeling of hydrocarbon production is with respect to a second model volume greater than the first model volume.

Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including modeling flow of hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing formation by: obtaining an indication of kerogen-wet porosity of kerogen within a portion of the formation; obtaining an indication of water-wet porosity within the portion of the formation; modeling hydrocarbon movement through the kerogen-wet porosity; and modeling hydrocarbon movement through the water-wet porosity.

Abstract: Method of treating a subterranean formation comprising providing a consolidation fluid, introducing the resin consolidation fluid into a subterranean formation comprising unconsolidated particulates; and, curing the resin to at least partially consolidate the unconsolidated particulates. The consolidation fluid comprises a resin in emulsified form with an aqueous external phase and an organic internal phase wherein the emulsified resin does not comprise a hardening agent and an aqueous base fluid that further comprises a hardening agent. The consolidation fluid may further comprise an emulsifying agent.

Abstract: Determining characteristics of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including determining at least one characteristics of a shale formation. The determining may include: collecting optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from a portion of the shale formation; directing a first portion of the optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from the formation to a first multivariate optical element (MOE), the first MOE creates first modified electromagnetic radiation; applying the first modified electromagnetic radiation to a first detector, the first detector creates a first signal; and determining a first characteristic of the shale formation from the first signal.

Abstract: Optimizing well planning scenarios. At least some of the illustrating embodiments include: receiving, by a computer system, a complex fracture model that estimates fractures in a subsurface target; applying the complex fracture model to a reservoir model that estimates geological features between the subsurface target and earth's surface; and determining an earth surface well site and a well path from the earth surface well site to the subsurface target based on the complex fracture model and the geological information, wherein the earth surface well site is offset from the subsurface target.

Abstract: Methods including the steps of providing an injection well having unconsolidated particulates in one or more formation intervals along the wellbore that accept injection fluid; providing a consolidating treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a consolidating agent; introducing the consolidating treatment fluid through the injection well, while the well is under injection, such that the consolidating treatment fluid enters into a portion of a formation interval along the wellbore that accepts injection fluid; and, allowing the consolidating fluid to consolidate formation particulates therein. The methods may be performed such that the percentage of consolidating agent varies over the course of the treatment or the rate of injection varies over the course of the treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems may operate to enable positron emission imaging with a unitary chamber body having an open end that defines a hollow interior portion shaped to completely contain a flexible sleeve that is used to cover a core sample when the sleeve is seated within the hollow interior portion. An end cap may be formed to engage the open end of the chamber body, which is configured to attenuate gamma rays approximately eight times less than stainless steel, while supporting a pressure differential of at least 3 MPa between the chamber inlet and the outlet when fluid carrying a radioactive tag to generate the gamma rays flows through the hollow interior portion and the core sample via the inlet and the outlet. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of preventing or reducing migration of particulates in injection wells. Some embodiments of the present invention describe methods of introducing a tackifying treatment fluid through an injection well and into a portion of a subterranean formation surrounding the injection well, wherein the tackifying treatment fluid comprises a base fluid and a tackifying agent. Other embodiments include a step of introducing a resin treatment fluid to the injection well before the tackifying treatment fluid.

Abstract: Methods are included that are useful in treating subterranean formations and, more particularly, to minimizing particulate migration over long intervals in subterranean well bores that may be horizontal, vertical, deviated, or otherwise nonlinear. In one embodiment, a method is presented comprising: providing a well bore comprising an open hole section of about 30 feet or more that comprises an open hole section with a filter cake neighboring at least a portion of a reservoir; allowing the integrity of at least a portion of the filter cake to become compromised; and treating at least a portion of the open hole section with a consolidating agent system in a single stage operation so as to at least partially reduce particulate migration in the open hole section.

Abstract: Methods relating to servicing fluids that comprise gelled liquefied petroleum gas or servicing fluids that comprise a conventional gelled hydrocarbon fluid with liquefied petroleum gas are provided. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise providing a LPG servicing fluid comprising LPG and a gelling agent; pressurizing the LPG servicing fluid with one or more high-pressure pumps; introducing proppant particulates into at least a portion of the LPG servicing fluid using one or more high pressure pumps; and introducing the LPG servicing fluid comprising proppant particulates into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one or more fractures therein. In one embodiment, a gelling agent may be metered into the LPG on-the-fly.

Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow, from layered shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modeling movement of hydrocarbons through kerogen-related porosity, the movement through a first model volume; estimating a first permeability of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation based on the modeling; and modeling hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation. The modeling hydrocarbon production may include: utilizing the first permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation; and utilizing a second permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation, the second permeability different than the first permeability. In various cases the modeling of hydrocarbon production is with respect to a second model volume greater than the first model volume.

Abstract: Methods are included that are useful in treating subterranean formations and, more particularly, to minimizing particulate migration over long intervals in subterranean well bores that may be horizontal, vertical, deviated, or otherwise nonlinear. In one embodiment, a method is presented comprising: providing a well bore comprising an open hole section of about 30 feet or more that comprises an open hole section with a filter cake neighboring at least a portion of a reservoir; allowing the integrity of at least a portion of the filter cake to become compromised; and treating at least a portion of the open hole section with a consolidating agent system in a single stage operation so as to at least partially reduce particulate migration in the open hole section.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems may operate to enable positron emission imaging with a unitary chamber body having an open end that defines a hollow interior portion shaped to completely contain a flexible sleeve that is used to cover a core sample when the sleeve is seated within the hollow interior portion. An end cap may be formed to engage the open end of the chamber body, which is configured to attenuate gamma rays approximately eight times less than stainless steel, while supporting a pressure differential of at least 3 MPa between the chamber inlet and the outlet when fluid carrying a radioactive tag to generate the gamma rays flows through the hollow interior portion and the core sample via the inlet and the outlet. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Remedial methods of controlling particulates within a subterranean formation comprising first, placing a resin composition into an unconsolidated zone of a subterranean formation; and second, placing an aqueous tackifying treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous tackifying agent into the unconsolidated zone. The resin may be curable or noncurable.

Abstract: Consolidation fluids comprising: an aqueous base fluid comprising a hardening agent; an emulsified resin having an aqueous external phase and an organic internal phase; a silane coupling agent; and a surfactant. The consolidation fluid itself may be emulsified and further comprise an emulsifying agent. The consolidation fluid may also be foamed in some cases.

Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including modeling flow of hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing formation by: obtaining an indication of kerogen-wet porosity of kerogen within a portion of the formation; obtaining an indication of water-wet porosity within the portion of the formation; modeling hydrocarbon movement through the kerogen-wet porosity; and modeling hydrocarbon movement through the water-wet porosity.