Abstract: A cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticle. A method of making cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles includes forming an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a gold precursor and glycine, keeping the reaction mixture at about 18° C. to about 50° C. for at least 6 days to provide formation of the cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles, and isolating the cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles from the reaction mixture. A method of analyzing a sample, comprising contacting cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles with the sample and performing an analytical method on the sample. A sensor comprises cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of determining a concentration of hydrogen sulfide in a fluid comprises exposing a sensor to the fluid, the sensor comprising a pair of electrodes defining a gap therebetween and a sensing material bridging the gap between the electrodes, measuring a value of an electrical parameter of the sensor at an applied frequency of greater than about 10 kHz and a voltage of less than about 1.0 volt when the sensor is exposed to the fluid, and determining the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the fluid based at least in part on the measured value of the electrical parameter. Related apparatuses and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to the use of a portable Surface Enhance Raman Spectroscopy method to detect, quantify, and/or monitor corrosion inhibitors that are present in fluids in a wide range of concentrations in order to manage corrosion treatment in oil and gas production and refining systems or other industrial systems and to reduce the amount of time spent in obtaining data that is reliable and useful for corrosion control.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a well sample for a well treatment additive includes contacting the sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group including a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; irradiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining presence, type or concentration of the well treatment additive in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: Carbon quantum dots may be introduced into oil-based downhole fluids, such as drilling fluids, completion fluids, stimulation fluids, remediation fluids, and combinations thereof, or into distillate fuels, to increase their electrical conductivity and improve or maintain their performance in oil production and refining operations, in both low and high shear conditions.

Abstract: A method of fracturing multiple productive zones of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid into each of the multiple production zones at a pressure sufficient to enlarge or create fractures in the multiple productive zones, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an upconverting nanoparticle that has a host material, a dopant, and a surface modification such that the upconverting nanoparticle is soluble or dispersible in water, a hydrocarbon oil, or a combination thereof; recovering a fluid from one or more of the multiple production zones; detecting the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid by exposing the recovered fluid to an excitation radiation having a monochromatic wavelength; and identifying the zone that produces the recovered fluid or monitoring an amount of water or oil in the produced fluid by measuring an optical property of the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a well sample for a well treatment additive includes contacting the sample with functionalized metallic nanoparticles that contain metallic nanoparticles functionalized with a functional group including a cyano group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, an amino group, a boronic acid group, an aza group, an ether group, a hydroxyl group, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; irradiating the sample contacted with the functionalized metallic nanoparticles with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level; measuring a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample; and determining presence, type or concentration of the well treatment additive in the sample from the Raman spectrum.

Abstract: A cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticle. A method of making cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles includes forming an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a gold precursor and glycine, keeping the reaction mixture at about 18° C. to about 50° C. for at least 6 days to provide formation of the cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles, and isolating the cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles from the reaction mixture. A method of analyzing a sample, comprising contacting cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles with the sample and performing an analytical method on the sample. A sensor comprises cyanide-functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method of fracturing multiple productive zones of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid into each of the multiple production zones at a pressure sufficient to enlarge or create fractures in the multiple productive zones, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an upconverting nanoparticle that has a host material, a dopant, and a surface modification such that the upconverting nanoparticle is soluble or dispersible in water, a hydrocarbon oil, or a combination thereof; recovering a fluid from one or more of the multiple production zones; detecting the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid by exposing the recovered fluid to an excitation radiation having a monochromatic wavelength; and identifying the zone that produces the recovered fluid or monitoring an amount of water or oil in the produced fluid by measuring an optical property of the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid.

Abstract: A method of installing a downhole device comprises introducing a downhole device into a wellbore, the downhole device comprising a substrate and a shape memory polymer in a deformed state disposed on the substrate; combining a modified activation material in the form of a powder, a hydrogel, an xerogel, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing with a carrier to provide an activation fluid; introducing the activation fluid into the wellbore; releasing an activation agent in a liquid form from the modified activation material; and contacting the shape memory polymer in the deformed state with the released activation agent in an amount effective to deploy the shape memory polymer.

Abstract: A method of fracturing multiple productive zones of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid into each of the multiple production zones at a pressure sufficient to enlarge or create fractures in the multiple productive zones, wherein the fracturing fluid comprises an upconverting nanoparticle that has a host material, a dopant, and a surface modification such that the upconverting nanoparticle is soluble or dispersible in water, a hydrocarbon oil, or a combination thereof; recovering a fluid from one or more of the multiple production zones; detecting the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid by exposing the recovered fluid to an excitation radiation having a monochromatic wavelength; and identifying the zone that produces the recovered fluid or monitoring an amount of water or oil in the produced fluid by measuring an optical property of the upconverting nanoparticle in the recovered fluid.

Abstract: A method of determining a property within a subterranean formation comprises introducing silica nanoparticles into a well; obtaining a sample of a fluid produced from the well; and analyzing the sample for presence of the silica nanoparticles, wherein the silica nanoparticles comprise a core, a donor chromophore, an acceptor chromophore, and an outer silica shell; the donor chromophore and the acceptor chromophore being selected such that an emission spectrum of the donor chromophore overlaps with an absorption spectrum of the acceptor chromophore.

Abstract: A filter membrane includes carbon nanotubes and carbon nitride nanoparticles. Inter-particle atomic interactions between the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nitride nanoparticles bind the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nitride nanoparticles together. A filter cartridge includes such a filter membrane disposed within an outer housing between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet such that fluid passing through the outer housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet passes through the filter membrane. Such filter membranes may be formed by dispersing carbon nanotubes and carbon nitride nanoparticles in a liquid to form a suspension, and passing the suspension through a filter to deposit the nanotubes and nanoparticles on the filter. Liquid may be filtered by causing the liquid to pass through such a filter membrane.

Abstract: Nanoparticles for use in the treatment of a well have a magnetic core of iron, nickel or cobalt or an alloy thereof; a carbon shell encapsulating the magnetic core; at least one organic functional group on the surface of the carbon shell through covalent bonding; and a coating of amorphous carbon nitride encapsulating the functionalized carbon shell. The nanoparticles may be used to identify fluids produced from the reservoir, identify the zone within the reservoir from which recovered fluid is produced, in water flooding to determine water breakthrough in the production well and to identify those injection wells from which breakthrough water originates.

Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting chemicals are disclosed. A device configured for use in a wellbore includes a sensor including a quantum tunneling composite (QTC) material configured to exhibit a change in electrical resistance responsive to the sensor contacting a target chemical. The sensor includes electrical resistance measuring circuitry operably coupled to the QTC material and configured to measure the electrical resistance of the QTC material and output a sensor signal indicating the electrical resistance. A method comprises deploying the sensor into the wellbore, measuring the electrical resistance of the QTC material, and determining the presence of the target chemical responsive to detecting changes in the electrical resistance of the QTC material. Another method includes selecting at least one of the QTC material and an active material to interact with a target wellbore chemical to change the electrical resistance of the QTC material.

Abstract: A coated article comprises a substrate and a self-healing coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, the self-healing coating comprising a metallic matrix; and a plurality of micro- or nano-sized particles dispersed in the metallic matrix; the micro- or nano-sized particles comprising an active agent disposed in a carrier comprising a micro- or nano-sized metallic container, a layered structure, a porous structure, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: A method of treating a fluid in a subterranean formation comprises injecting a fluid into the subterranean formation, the fluid containing dissolved oxygen; contacting the fluid with an oxygen removal device, the oxygen removal device comprising an anode, a cathode comprising metallic nanoparticles loaded on a support, an ion exchange membrane disposed between, and electrically separating the anode and the cathode, and a power source electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode; and reducing the amount of the dissolved oxygen in the fluid.

Abstract: A coated article comprises a substrate and a self-healing coating disposed on a surface of the substrate, the self-healing coating comprising a metallic matrix; and a plurality of micro- or nano-sized particles dispersed in the metallic matrix; the micro- or nano-sized particles comprising an active agent disposed in a carrier comprising a micro- or nano-sized metallic container, a layered structure, a porous structure, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: Carbon quantum dots are used as tracers during the production of hydrocarbons. The tracer may be used to identify fluids produced from the reservoir. When used in the fracturing of multiple zones of the reservoir, qualitatively distinguishable carbon quantum dots may be used to identify the zone within the reservoir from which recovered fluid was produced. The carbon quantum dots may also be used in water flooding to determine water breakthrough in the production well. Upon water breakthrough in a production well, they may also be used to identify those injection wells from which breakthrough water originates.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating a concentration of monoethanolamine (MEA) in a fluid. A substrate for supporting a sample of the fluid during testing includes a carbon nanotube mat layer, a silver nanowire layer disposed on the carbon nanotube mat layer, and a chemical enhancer layer disposed on the silver nanowire layer. A sample of the fluid is placed on the substrate, and the fluid sample is radiated with electromagnetic radiation at a selected energy level. A detector measures a Raman spectrum emitted from the sample in response to the electromagnetic radiation. A processor estimates the concentration of MEA in the sample from the Raman spectrum and adds a corrosion inhibitor to the fluid in an amount based on the estimated concentration of MEA to reduce the concentration of MEA in the fluid.