Abstract: Methods are provided that include, but are not limited to, methods of treating guar splits comprising: exposing guar splits to a treatment chemical to create treated guar splits, wherein the treatment chemical comprises at least one treatment chemical selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous salt solution; a caustic solution, and a derivatizing agent; and grinding the treated guar splits to create ground, treated guar splits.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include, but are not limited to, methods of treating guar splits comprising: exposing guar splits to a treatment chemical to create treated guar splits, wherein the treatment chemical comprises at least one treatment chemical selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous salt solution; a caustic solution, and a derivatizing agent; and grinding the treated guar splits to create ground, treated guar splits.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include, but are not limited to, methods of treating guar splits comprising: exposing guar splits to a treatment chemical to create treated guar splits, wherein the treatment chemical comprises at least one treatment chemical selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous salt solution; a caustic solution, and a derivatizing agent; and grinding the treated guar splits to create ground, treated guar splits.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating at least a portion of a well. The method includes the steps of: (a) simultaneously introducing into a mixer at least: (i) a first stream comprising water; (ii) a second stream comprising a dry, hydratable, viscosity-increasing agent for water, wherein the second stream is substantially free of water; and (iii) a third stream comprising a non-hydratable, insoluble particulate; wherein at least the first and second streams are not mixed prior to being introduced into the mixer; (b) mixing the first, second, and third streams in the mixer to form a pumpable mixture, wherein: (i) the mixer creates at least a sufficiently-high shear rate to disperse the viscosity-increasing agent and the insoluble particulate in the pumpable mixture; and (ii) the pumpable mixture has or is capable of developing a substantially-higher viscosity than the viscosity of the first stream; and (c) introducing a treatment fluid comprising the pumpable mixture into a wellbore.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating at least a portion of a well. The method includes the steps of: (a) simultaneously introducing into a mixer at least: (i) a first stream comprising water; (ii) a second stream comprising a dry, hydratable, viscosity-increasing agent for water, wherein the second stream is substantially free of water; and (iii) a third stream comprising a non-hydratable, insoluble particulate; wherein at least the first and second streams are not mixed prior to being introduced into the mixer; (b) mixing the first, second, and third streams in the mixer to form a pumpable mixture, wherein: (i) the mixer creates at least a sufficiently-high shear rate to disperse the viscosity-increasing agent and the insoluble particulate in the pumpable mixture; and (ii) the pumpable mixture has or is capable of developing a substantially-higher viscosity than the viscosity of the first stream; and (c) introducing a treatment fluid comprising the pumpable mixture into a wellbore.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include, but are not limited to, methods of treating guar splits comprising: exposing guar splits to a treatment chemical to create treated guar splits, wherein the treatment chemical comprises at least one treatment chemical selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous salt solution; a caustic solution, and a derivatizing agent; and grinding the treated guar splits to create ground, treated guar splits.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of treating a base aqueous solution to obtain a first aqueous solution, for example, to have a substantially reduced concentration of at least one component relative to the concentration of the component in the base aqueous solution, and using the first aqueous solution and a lower-quality water, such as the base aqueous solution, to form a treatment fluid. The first aqueous solution and the lower-quality water are merged after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. The component is selected for being deleterious to the use or performance of a treatment fluid. More particularly, the component is selected from the group consisting of: a dissolved ion, oil, grease, a production chemical, and suspended, water-insoluble solids. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of treating a base aqueous solution to obtain a first aqueous solution, for example, to have a substantially reduced concentration of at least one component relative to the concentration of the component in the base aqueous solution, and using the first aqueous solution and a lower-quality water, such as the base aqueous solution, to form a treatment fluid. The first aqueous solution and the lower-quality water are merged after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. The component is selected for being deleterious to the use or performance of a treatment fluid. More particularly, the component is selected from the group consisting of: a dissolved ion, oil, grease, a production chemical, and suspended, water-insoluble solids. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of using higher-quality water for one portion of the water for a treatment fluid and lower-quality water for another portion of the water for a treatment fluid, and merging the two portions to form the treatment fluid after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first and second fluids are pumped at different average bulk fluid velocities through different pumping chambers of fluid pumps. This helps reduce wear on the pumps.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive. This helps reduce wear on the pumps.