Abstract: The present invention provides improved cementitious compositions which can include drilling fluid as a component thereof and methods of cementing wells utilizing such compositions. The compositions are basically comprised of a cementitious material, water, a hardenable resinous material and optionally, drilling fluid in an amount up to about 70% by volume of the cementitious material in the composition.

Abstract: A method of tracking material in a well comprises the steps of: (a) creating in a computer a model of the structure of the well, including defining a first plurality of sets of data to define sectors of a flow path in the well; (b) creating in the computer a first model of the material in the well, including defining a second plurality of sets of data to define initial conditions of material within the sectors; and (c) creating in the computer, in response to the first plurality of sets of data and the second plurality of sets of data, a second model of the material in the well, including defining a third plurality of sets of data of current conditions of material within the sectors.

Abstract: A dry, agglomerated cement material, a method of preparing the dry, agglomerated cement material, a method of cementing, and an apparatus for agglomerating particulate materials. The dry, agglomerated cement material comprises a plurality of particles of a cement bonded together by a water-soluble binder material. The dry, agglomerated cement material is prepared by depositing the water-soluble binder material on the particles such that the binder material bonds the particles together. The inventive agglomerated cement material can be conveniently transported by both pneumatic and non-pneumatic means. The method of cementing comprises the step of mixing the agglomerated cement material with water to form a cement slurry.

Abstract: Improved hydraulic cement compositions and methods for cementing wells drilled through low temperature earth formations wherein the cement is subjected to freeze-thaw cycling are provided. The compositions are comprised of a hydraulic cement, gypsum cement, fly ash, an alkali metal halide, water, and an alcohol freezing point depressant.

Abstract: A method of consolidating an incompetent particulate in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore accomplished by introducing fluids to be injected into a wellbore into coiled tubing while the tubing is outside the wellbore and thereafter pumping the fluids from the coiled tubing into the wellbore after circulating ports open in a firing head in response to initiation of the variable delay firing head for ignition of a gas generator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling fluid loss to a permeable formation penetrated by a wellbore. A novel fluid loss agent is prepared by forming a crosslinked polymer gel which then is sheared to break the gel into discrete particles. A slurry then is formed of the particles by dispersing the particles in an aqueous fluid having a density similar to that of the gel particles. The slurry then is introduced into contact with the permeable formation and a filter cake of the particles is formed upon contact with the formation and loss of the slurrying fluid to the formation. The filter cake provides further fluid loss control to the permeable formation.

Abstract: A gel fluid for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore including an aqueous liquid, an organic gelling agent and at least about 0.05% by weight, based on the weight of the aqueous liquid, of a broken gel fragment stabilizer. The gel fluid can optionally include crosslinking agents, proppant materials, pH buffers and other components. The broken gel fragment stabilizer is a dialkyl sulfosuccinate that has dispersing properties sufficient to diminish the propensity of broken gel fragments formed when the gel fluid breaks to agglomerate. Also provided is a method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore. The inventive gel fluid and method are particularly suitable for fracturing a subterranean formation to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons therefrom.

Abstract: Methods of completing poorly consolidated subterranean formations bounded by one or more consolidated formations to prevent sand production from the poorly consolidated formations are provided. The methods basically comprise the steps of drilling a well bore into the consolidated boundary formation adjacent to the poorly consolidated formation, creating a propped fracture communicating with the well bore in the consolidated boundary formation which extends into the poorly consolidated formation and producing fluids from the poorly consolidated formation into the well bore by way of the propped fracture.

Abstract: The present invention provides low viscosity acid-in-oil emulsions, surfactant systems and methods of using the emulsions and surfactants for stimulating the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean producing formations. The low viscosity acid-in-oil emulsions are basically comprised of a hydrocarbon oil forming the external phase of the emulsion, an emulsifying agent of a type which forms and stabilizes an acid-in-oil emulsion, an emulsion viscosity reducing agent comprising a fatty ammonium salt of a fatty acid and an aqueous acid solution forming the internal phase of the emulsion.

Abstract: Cement set retarding additives, set retarded hydraulic cement compositions and methods of using the cement compositions for cementing zones in wells are provided. The set retarding additives are copolymers containing monomer units formed from a first monomer of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and a second monomer of acrylamide or a derivative of acrylamide.

Abstract: The present invention provides set retarding additives, set retarded hydraulic cement compositions including such additives and methods of using the cement compositions for cementing zones in wells. The set retarding additives are graft copolymers or terpolymers comprised of the condensation polymer product of a ketone, aldehyde and a compound which introduces acid groups into the polymer having grafted thereto a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, vinyl phosphonic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid and itaconic acid or one of the foregoing monomers and a second monomer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for producing a curable resin coated proppant and a crosslinked aqueous gel carrier fluid system. The resin coated proppant and crosslinked aqueous gel carrier fluid system provided may be controllable thinned or "broken" by the addition of a quantity of oxidizing breaker similar to the quantity of oxidizing breaker sufficient to break the carrier fluid in traditional non-resin coated proppant and crosslinked aqueous gel carrier fluid system. A resole resin is the film forming material use to coat the proppant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controllably breaking an aqueous based viscosified fluid containing a gel stabilizer such as sodium thiosulfate, when the fluid is within a subterranean formation having a temperature above about 175.degree. F. The method is accomplished by the incorporation of a particular selected breaker comprising an alkali metal chlorite or hypochlorite in the viscosified fluid containing the gel stabilizer. The method is particularly effective in providing a controlled break in a treatment fluid introduced into a subterranean formation having a static temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. F. to about 300.degree. F.

Abstract: A method and coating composition for producing protective coatings on metal surfaces of tubular goods, equipment and so forth used in processes associated with oxidative environments to inhibit corrosive effects of the oxidative environments thereon. The coating composition includes an aqueous liquid carrier and a corrosion inhibiting combination of a specific condensation product and an antimony compound. The antimony compound is activated by the condensation product and enhances the degree of protection achieved.

Abstract: A casing inflation packer for use in a casing string in a well bore. The apparatus includes a housing connected in the casing string. An inflatable packer portion on the housing sealingly engages the well bore when inflated. An inflation passageway is defined between a housing central opening and the packer. A rupture disc is initially disposed between the central opening and the inflation passageway for preventing communication therebetween. The rupture disc ruptures in response to a first predetermined pressure, thereby placing the central opening in communication with the packer through the inflation passageway. A slidable control valve is disposed in the inflation passageway and is initially shearably held in an open position. Upon application of a second predetermined pressure across the valve, the valve is moved to a closed position, thus preventing overinflation of the packer and also preventing deflation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of cementing a well with a cementing composition utilizing a portion of the fluid used to drill the well as a component of the cementing composition. The methods basically comprise forming a cementing composition, consisting essentially of a cementing precursor composition and a set-activator introducing the cementing composition into the well and permitting the cementing composition to set into a hard mass therein; wherein the cementing precursor composition is the fluid used to drill the well.

Abstract: Set retarded ultra fine cement compositions which remain pumpable for a predictable period of time at temperatures up to about 400.degree. F. are provided. The compositions are basically comprised of an ultra fine hydraulic cement, sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry and a set retarder comprised of a water soluble aliphatic compound containing at least three carbon atoms and at least one phosphonic acid or phosphonate group.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing soil in a subterranean earth situs. The apparatus includes a parallelogram spotter or positioning portion with a drilling table support portion connected thereto. A rotary drilling table is mounted on the drilling table support portion. Relative movement is provided between the support portion and the positioning portion in a plurality of planes. A pivotation portion is disposed between the support portion and the positioning portion and pivotally connected thereto. Hydraulic cylinders are provided to shift the apparatus about a vertical axis, to move the drilling table support portion in a longitudinal direction, to tilt the pivotation portion and support portion about a horizontal axis and to tip the support portion with respect to the pivotation portion about a longitudinal axis. A table elevation winch is mounted on the support portion and has a table elevation cable extending therefrom which is engaged with a pulley connected to the support portion.

Abstract: Fracturing fluids for hydraulically fracturing oil and gas bearing subterranean formations to increase flow of formation fluids into wells using a periodate or a metaperiodate salt as the viscosity breaker. The fracturing fluids are particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with curable resin-coated proppants and for fracturing subterranean formations which are at temperatures between about 50.degree. F. and about 120.degree. F., in conjunction with both uncured resin-coated proppants and other types of proppants.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided which provide improved viscosity reduction of crosslinked hydratable polymer treating fluids in the presence of uncured resin-coated proppants. The uncured resins are generally uncured phenolic or furan resins. The breaker comprises an oxidizing agent to which is added a sequestering agent comprising a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and acrylic acid to sequester at least a portion of any phenolic extracts from said resin that may be present in said treating fluid from contact with the uncured resin.