Abstract: A wellbore service fluid comprising viscoelastic surfactants in combination with means for controlling the concentration of at least partially charged sites within the fluid is described.

Abstract: Invert emulsion compositions including an oleaginous, a non-oleaginous and an amine surfactant that are useful in the oil and gas well drilling art are disclosed. The amine surfactant is selected so that the invert emulsion can be converted form a water-in-oil type emulsion to a oil-in-water type emulsion upon the protonation of the amine surfactant. Deprotonation of the amine surfactant reverses the conversion.

Abstract: A composition useful as a well lubricant, solvent and emulsifier that is preferably formed by the reaction and distillation of a tall oil fatty acid with a fatty alkanolamide, preferably in the presence of methyl ester of fatty acids, and most preferably when further reacted and distilled with an emulsifier such as coconut oil diethanolamide or distilled tall oil amide of AEP. The fatty acids and oils useful in the invention can range from C8 to C24, with C12, C14, C16, C18 and C20 fatty acids and oils being most preferred. The presence of methyl ester is preferred because it functions as a foam supressant, diluent and amine scavenger during distillation.

Abstract: Liquid hydrocarbons are gelled by the introduction of a phosphate ester and a crosslinking agent. Gelling times and viscosities are improved through the use of an enhancer which is, preferably, an oxyalkylated amine or a blend of an oxyalkylated amine with another amine or a non-nitrogen-containing component. Preferred phosphate esters are ether phosphate esters.

Abstract: The Invention relates to novel fluids and techniques to optimize/enhance the production of hydrocarbon from subterranean formations (e.g., "completion fluids"), in particular, fluids and techniques are disclosed and claimed which remove wellbore damage and near-wellbore damage in the form of coating formed from drilling and production-related operations ("filtercake"); the techniques can be applied either by themselves or in conjunction with other completion operations, such as gravel packing; preferred embodiments are chelating agent and enzyme systems in a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) matrix.

Abstract: Method and composition for gel formation in hydrocarbon recovery, in which an organic phosphate ester is gelled by a novel activator composition comprising iron sulfate, dibutylaminoethanol, and a phosphate surfactant.

Abstract: A degradable ball sealer for use in the oil and gas industry is disclosed. The ball seat comprises a particular composition of matter and injection molding technique that provides a ball seal which will dissolve in stimulation or wellbore fluids after stimulation operations are complete. In use, the surface of the ball sealer softens slightly assuring a solid seal between the ball the and the casing perforation. The composition when dissolved into wellbore fluids does not pose a hazard and disperses well in aqueous based wellbore fluids. The same composition, made into a larger ball, may be used as a tubing sealer for pressure testing.

Abstract: Corrosion is inhibited in hydrochloric acid solutions used to acidize wells, by adding to the solutions a corrosion inhibiting composition comprising cinnamaldehyde or a substituted cinnamaldehyde together with a reaction product of a C.sub.3-6 ketone such as acetophenone, thiourea or a related compound, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides borate cross-linked well treating fluids and methods of preparing and using the fluids in treating wells such as fracturing subterranean zones therein. The improved cross-linked treating fluids are basically comprised of water, a hydrated galactomannan gelling agent and a borate composition for buffering the treating fluid and cross-linking the hydrated galactomannan gelling agent comprised of water, a soluble boron source and an alkanolamine or alkylamine.

Abstract: The invention is an effective, easy to produce, and economical corrosion inhibitor which can be used in a variety of environments. The corrosion inhibitor of the present invention is the salt of certain tertiary amines. The corrosion inhibitor is the reaction product of one or more tertiary amines and certain carboxylic acids, preferably a mixture of mercaptocarboxylic and carboxylic acids.

Abstract: Odorant depletion is reduced by passivating the internal surface of LP-gas transportation and storage vessels by the addition of passivating agents comprising mixtures of corrosion inhibitors such as phosphate esters, fatty amines, poly amides, imidazolines, poly imidazolines, quaternary amines, poly quats, dimer acids, trimer acids, polymeric acids, ethoxylated fatty amines, ethoxylated polyamides, ethoxylated alcohols and mixtures thereof in one or more solvents. In a preferred embodiment, the passivating agents contain one or more phosphate esters defined by the equation:?R--X--?C.sub.m H.sub.2m O).sub.n !.sub.k --PO(OH).sub.

Abstract: A concentrate for use with an oil or water carrier for injection into a well to enhance production and a method of well treatment are disclosed. The five part concentrate contains xylene, an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent such as kerosene, a non-ionic emulsifier, a non-ionic surfactant and an amphoteric detergent. The xylene and kerosene create a solvent hole in the materials restricting flow. The surfactant expands the holes while the detergent and emulsifier assist in dispersing the removed material to thereby stimulate production from the well. The injection of the concentrate and carrier mixture can take place during shut-in of the well or during continued production.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising: a mixture of a brine and a liquid oil, and (A) an emulsifying amount of (i) at least one reaction product of a hydrocarbyl-substituted succinic acylating agent, and at least one of (a) ammonia, (b) an alcohol, (c) an amine, (d) or mixtures thereof, or at least one salt of the reaction product; or (ii) at least one reaction product of a hydroxyaromatic compound, an aldehyde, and an amine. The compositions of the present invention have beneficial emulsification properties. These compositions are useful in drilling, working over and completing well-bore holes. The well-drilling compositions of the present invention have beneficial viscosity, pumping and suspension properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optimized lubricating composition including, in useful amount, an ester and a fatty acid, and optionally, the invention also relates to a well fluid including the lubricating composition according to the invention and the use of the composition for controlling the lubricity of a water-base fluid.

Abstract: Compounds selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ammonium-containing compounds, urea, urea homologues and analogues, and mixtures thereof surprisingly lower the crystallization temperature of aqueous, carbon disulfide precursor (e.g., thiocarbonate)-containing solutions.

Abstract: The present invention provides nonionic alkanolamides which may be added to drilling fluids in order to minimize hydration and prevent erosion loss of water-sensitive shale substrates. Preferred alkanolamides are acetamide mono- and diethanolamines.

Abstract: Compounds selected from the group consisting of urea, urea homologues and analogues, and mixtures thereof are employed to synergistically increase the dewaxing efficacy of aqueous, carbon disulfide precursor (e.g., thiocarbonate)-containing solutions.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion on metal surfaces and downhole equipment and above surface separation equipment from a mixture of brine and crude oil extracted from underground formations. The method comprises the injection on a periodic basis of an effective amount of an oxime compound having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl groups of one to eight carbons or aryl groups. In addition to functioning as a corrosion inhibitor for the metal surfaces in contact with the mixture, the oxime compound is less susceptible to neutralization by contact with acidic species, and is less likely to emulsify the brine and crude oil mixture brought to the surface.

Abstract: Viscoelastic surfactant based aqueous fluid systems are described that are useful in fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by a wellbore. The preferred thickening agents are quaternary ammonium halide salts derived from certain waxes, fats and oils. The thickening agent is used in conjunction with an inorganic water soluble salt such as ammonium chloride or potassium chloride, and an organic stabilizing additive selected from the group of organic salts such as sodium salicylate. The resulting fluids are stable to a fluid temperature of about 225.degree. F.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation by rapidly viscosifying a normally liquid hydrocarbon. The method is accomplished by admixing (i) an alkyl orthophosphate acid ester and (ii) an alkali metal hydroxide present in an amount sufficient to at least partially neutralize said ester and (iii) a reaction product resulting from the reaction of a source of aluminum or ferric ions with a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 surface active amine solubilized in the presence of an organic solvent such as a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 monohydric alcohol with the normally liquid hydrocarbon. The mixture rapidly viscosifies to a level sufficient to transport proppant and then can be introduced into a subterranean formation to treat the formation in a desired manner.

Abstract: An aqueous gellable composition capable of producing gels resistant to syneresis in the presence of divalent ions, contains:a water-soluble acrylamide polymer or copolymer,a crosslinking agent formed by a water-soluble aldehyde, or a water-soluble aldehyde and a water-soluble phenol,a water-soluble anti-syneresis agent selected from: organic carboxy acids, organic hydroxy acids and aminoacids, or among aminophosphonic acids and their alkali-metal or ammonium salts.When malonic acid is used, a delay in aqueous composition gelation is additionally obtained.