Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a solid phase barite containing material for use in a wellbore. The method includes the steps of providing the barite containing material having relatively small particles with a particle size distribution of at least 50 vol % particles having a diameter in the range of 1 ?m to 10 ?m and at least 90 vol % particles having a diameter in the range of 4 ?m to 20 ?m; and contacting the barite containing material with a liquid in order to form relatively large particles having a particle size distribution with at least 90 vol % of the particles having a diameter of at least 30 ?m. There is also described a method of treating a wellbore with a fluid including the barite containing material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of isolating a selected reservoir zone in a subterranean reservoir comprising at least the step of squeezing a treatment fluid into the selected reservoir zone, the treatment fluid comprising: a viscosifying agent; a fluid loss control agent; and a particulate material. The invention further provides a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid; a viscosifying agent; at least 20 kg/m3 of a fluid loss control agent; and a particulate material.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid without requiring dilution. The method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid, includes: providing a water-based drilling fluid containing a peroxide degradable polymer and a weighting agent, adding a viscosity reducing additive containing an inorganic peroxide to the water-based drilling fluid while maintaining the pH of the water-based drilling fluid at a pH greater than about 8, circulating the water-based drilling fluid having a pH greater than about 8 through a wellbore, and heating the circulating water-based drilling fluid to a temperature of at least about 150° F. so as to activate the inorganic peroxide to degrade the peroxide degradable polymer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to gels for use in downhole applications containing the reaction product of at least one polymer, or polymer precursor, and at least one oxazoline crosslinking agent, wherein the at least one polymer, or polymer precursor, and the oxazoline crosslinking agent are normally combined in a solution, and methods including the use thereof.

Abstract: A work string tool to be operably associated with a weight-set packer tool uses pressure applied by fluid circulated from the surface above the weight-set packer, to deploy a hydraulic hold-down anchor mechanism above the packer to reduce the risk of unsetting during a high pressure “positive” wellbore integrity test. An axial bore of a tool tubular body houses first and second inner sleeves, and is configured to accommodate independent axial movement of the sleeves to provide multiple fluid flowpath configurations through the tool which allow use of circulation fluid to pressure to circulate a ball obturator to a valve seat in a sleeve when a configuration change is required to deploy or release the anchor means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a corrosion inhibitor for use in the oil and gas exploration, recovery and processing industries. In particular, the invention relates to a quaternary ammonium compound suitable for use as such a corrosion inhibitor, to the manufacture of the quaternary ammonium compound, to compositions containing it, and to methods of using it. Quaternary ammonium compounds of the invention have the formula (I) in which R is C1-6 alkyl, C2-6 alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl; X, Y, and Z are each independently hydrogen, or R1CO—, provided that at least one of X, Y and Z is R1CO, where R1 is C5-23 alkyl or alkenyl containing 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds; D is C2-6 alkylene; E is C2-4 alkylene; p, q and r are each, independently, integers from 0 to 20, with the proviso that p+q+r is from 3 to 20; and A? is an anion.

Abstract: A sealing means for debris chambers of a debris extraction tool and a method for dismantling and handling a debris extraction toll using such sealing means are disclosed. The sealing means for a debris chamber for a debris extraction tool may include a cylindrical body sealed at one end and open at the other end. The open end may be connectable to an end of the debris chamber. The method for dismantling a debris extraction tool, wherein the debris extraction tool comprises a plurality of connected debris chambers, may use the sealing means and may include connecting the sealing means to the topmost debris chamber of the debris extraction tool.

Abstract: Modular debris chambers of a debris extraction tool and a method for collecting debris using such modular debris chambers are disclosed. The modular debris chamber for a debris extraction tool may include a plurality of debris chambers. The modular debris chamber may include a bucket for collecting debris, an inner flow tube being concentrically arranged within the bucket, and a deflector arranged in a lower end of the bucket for deflecting a flow of debris from the inner flow tube of a subsequent modular debris chamber connectable to a lower end of the modular debris chamber. The method for collecting debris using a modular debris chamber may include a plurality of the modular debris chambers interconnected to form a debris extraction tool, and reflecting fluid off the deflector allowing solid debris in the flow of debris to deflect off the deflector into the bucket of a subsequent modular debris chamber.

Abstract: The present application describes improved compositions for wellbore fluids for use in downhole (e.g. oilwell) applications. The compositions comprise a blocked isocyanate (BI) component having a tolerance improving group (such as a hydrophilic group, e.g. an amine) bonded to it, and an active hydrogen component. When the BI group is unblocked, it reacts with the active hydrogen component to form a gel which, by virtue of the tolerance improving group, is more tolerant to contaminants (such as aqueous inorganic salts or brines) than the corresponding gel forms from unmodified BI. The application also relates to methods of treating an earthen formation using such a composition.

Abstract: A method of drilling with a wellbore fluid, wherein the wellbore fluid forms a filtercake on a wellbore wall, that includes pumping the wellbore fluid with an oxidative degradable polymer and an inactivated oxidant; forming a filtercake in a downhole environment by the pumping of the wellbore fluid into a well and allowing some of the fluid to filter into a subterranean rock formation to produce a filtercake comprising the oxidative degradable polymer and inactivated oxidant; and removing the filtercake formed by the wellbore fluid from the wellbore walls by exposing the filterckae with a breaker fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, and at least one iminodiacetic acid or a salt thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a reactor, the method including circulating a fluid inside the reactor, pumping the fluid from the reactor into an inlet of a tank cleaner, and removing solids from the fluid to produce a clean fluid. The method further includes transferring the clean fluid to the reactor and transferring pneumatically the removed solids to a pressurized vessel. Also, a method for transferring spent granular material, the method including providing a vacuum system disposed at a hydrocarbon production site to remove spent material from a reactor, transferring the spent material through the vacuum system into a pressurized vessel, and conveying pneumatically the spent material from the pressurized vessel to a second pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A method for processing hydrocarbons recovered from a subterranean formation is disclosed. The method includes: feeding a stream including water, sand, and heavy hydrocarbons produced from a subterranean formation to a separation vessel; concurrently in the separation vessel: heating the stream components to an elevated temperature to reduce a viscosity of the heavy hydrocarbons; and separating the sand, the heavy hydrocarbon, and the water to form a water fraction, a hydrocarbon fraction, and a sand fraction comprising sand and at least one of water and heavy hydrocarbons; and recovering the water fraction from the separation vessel; recovering the hydrocarbon fraction from the separation vessel; and withdrawing the sand fraction from the separation vessel. Also disclosed are apparatus suitable for performing the above described method.

Abstract: Methods for maintaining the rheology and reducing the fluid loss of chrome-free, aqueous-based wellbore fluids under high temperature-high pressure conditions are disclosed. The method may comprise formulating the chrome-free, aqueous wellbore fluid with an aqueous base fluid, at least one chrome-free viscosifier, at least one chrome-free fluid loss control additive, at least one chrome-free dispersant; and circulating the chrome-free aqueous-based wellbore fluid in a wellbore at temperatures exceeding 300° F.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation that includes exposing a region of the formation occupied by a hydrolysable gel to a hydrolyzing agent; and allowing sufficient time for the hydrolyzing agent to hydrolyze the gel. Various methods may also include the use of a swelling agent to allow for expansion of the gel.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid without requiring dilution. The method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid, includes: providing a water-based drilling fluid containing a peroxide degradable polymer and a weighting agent, adding a viscosity reducing additive containing an inorganic peroxide to the water-based drilling fluid while maintaining the pH of the water-based drilling fluid at a pH greater than about 8, circulating the water-based drilling fluid having a pH greater than about 8 through a wellbore, and heating the circulating water-based drilling fluid to a temperature of at least about 150° F. so as to activate the inorganic peroxide to degrade the peroxide degradable polymer.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods of treating a wellbore (101) including emplacing at least one electrolytic tool (50) in a desired section of the wellbore, applying an electric charge to wellbore fluids present in the desired section of the wellbore, and generating oxidants in situ by electrolyzing components of the wellbore fluids.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid that includes an oleaginous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous discontinuous phase comprising a water-soluble silicate therein; and an emulsifier to stabilize the non-oleaginous phase dispersed in the oleaginous phase is disclosed. A setting agent, including organic or inorganic setting agent may optionally be included to trigger gelation or precipitation of the silicate downhole.

Abstract: A method of forming an agent for removing or separating a species from a diluent or process stream, e.g. a desulphurisation agent. The method comprises mixing at least one compound of manganese and pore forming articles.