Abstract: A method for modifying surface wettability of a surface of a solid substrate may include contacting the surface of the solid substrate with a brine solution containing carbon nanodots. The carbon nanodots may have carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen as constituent elements and may include one or more functional groups disposed at outer surfaces of the carbon nanodots. The brine solution has a salinity of greater than 30,000 TDS. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the brine solution is less than or equal to 500 ppmw. Contacting the solid substrate with the brine solution comprising the carbon nanodots is characterized by a contact duration, a contact volume, or both, that is sufficient to reduce the oil wettability of the surface of the solid substrate by at least 15%, as defined by a contact angle of a crude oil droplet contacted with the surface of the solid substrate.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for using pyrophoric liquids to ignite combustible gas.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fluid content in a formation sample are disclosed. The method includes disposing the formation sample with a standard sample of a known chemical composition and one or more nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) attributes in a NMR coil or probe, and acquiring NMR signals for the formation sample and the standard sample simultaneously. The system includes a NMR probe or NMR coil, a formation sample, and a standard sample with known chemical composition and one or more nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) attributes, wherein the formation sample and the standard sample are disposed in the NMR coil or probe, and wherein NMR signals are acquired for the formation sample and the standard sample simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes combusting a fuel and air mixture within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, thereby forming an exhaust gas, passing the exhaust gas out of the combustion chamber, performing a startup procedure, the startup procedure including passing the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber to a storage unit, capturing criteria pollutants of the exhaust gas with the storage unit, passing the exhaust gas from the storage unit to an aftertreatment system, heating the aftertreatment system to an activation temperature with the exhaust gas from the storage unit, and subsequent to heating the aftertreatment system to the activation temperature, performing a secondary procedure, the secondary procedure including passing the exhaust gas from the combustion chamber to the aftertreatment system thereby forming a treated exhaust gas, and passing the treated exhaust gas to the storage unit.

Abstract: Treating a sulfide scale includes contacting the sulfide scale with an oxidizing composition that includes a first oxidizer and a second oxidizer.

Abstract: A downhole tool can be advanced downhole a wellbore. The downhole tool can include an electromagnetic source, a directional antenna, and a casing. The casing can either completely or partially consist of ceramic materials. The directional antenna can be oriented to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic source towards the ceramic materials of the casing. In response to receiving the electromagnetic radiation, the ceramic materials can absorb the electromagnetic radiation, which can cause the ceramic materials to rapidly increase in temperature.

Abstract: A method includes spraying acid onto an inner wall of a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone with entrapped hydrocarbons that flow into the subterranean zone. Spraying the acid forms a subterranean cavern within a portion of the wellbore, the subterranean cavern being wider than the wellbore. The entrapped hydrocarbons flow into the subterranean cavern. The entrapped hydrocarbons include liquid hydrocarbons and water. The liquid hydrocarbons and the water separate under gravity within the subterranean cavern. The method also includes drawing the liquid hydrocarbons from the subterranean cavern to a surface of the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and a computer-implemented method includes the following. Field environmental data is collected from environmental systems in real time over a network for an environmental incident in an area of interest. Weather systems are tracked in real time for the environmental incident in the area of interest using weather data collected from weather systems. Changes in vapor cloud images are tracked in real time for the environmental incident in the area of interest. Vapor cloud predictions are determined using a vapor cloud model. Events that occur in the area of interest are tracked in real time. Emergency preparedness procedures corresponding to the area of interest are tracked. Root cause analysis is performed for the environmental incident using the collected data, the tracked data, and the determined vapor cloud predictions. An action is performed based on the root cause analysis.

Abstract: An optical signal source is positioned at a first side of the flow cell or the flow-line bypass. The optical signal source is capable of emitting an optical signal through the first side of the flow cell or the flow-line bypass. A first optical detector is positioned at a second side of the flow cell. The second side is opposite the first side. The first optical detector is capable of detecting a transmitted-light intensity of the optical signal transmitted through the second side of the flow cell or the flow-line bypass. A second optical detector is positioned at a third side of the flow cell. The third side is different than the first side and the second side. The second optical detector is capable of detecting a scattered-light intensity of a scattered optical signal transmitted through the third side of the flow cell or the flow-line bypass.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump. The vacuum chamber is positioned within a wellbore. A wellbore is fluidically exposed to an interior of the vacuum chamber after the vacuum chamber has been evacuated. At least a portion of condensate within the wellbore is flashed responsive to fluidically exposing a wellbore to an interior of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, to generate generating geo-cellular models with improved lacunae. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a seismic dataset of a surveyed subsurface, and the seismic dataset includes seismic porosities in depth of the surveyed subsurface. Seismic porosities resampled into a three dimensional (3D) geological fine layer model grid. Seismic porosities at well locations are extracted using the 3D geological fine layer model grid. Log porosities and the seismic porosities are upscaled into coarse layers, and the coarse layers are identical for all the well locations. Match factors are determined based on differences between the upscaled log porosities and the downscaled seismic porosities. Co-krig the log porosities are correlated with the 3D geological fine layer model grid using the match factors as a soft constraint to produce a final 3D model.

Abstract: Composite catalysts includes zeolite particles at least partially embedded in a catalyst support material and at least one catalytically active compound deposited on the outer surfaces and pore surfaces of the catalyst support material, zeolite particles, or both. A method of making the composite catalysts may include preparing a catalyst precursor mixture that includes the zeolite, catalyst support material, triblock copolymer surfactant, and the catalytically active compound precursor and spray drying the catalyst precursor mixture. The composite catalysts may be used as a single catalyst for conducting olefin metathesis and cracking reactions. A method for producing propene may include contacting a butene-containing feed with the composite catalysts.

Abstract: A lost-circulation material including a mixture of an aqueous colloidal dispersion and fatty acid. The aqueous colloidal dispersion includes silica nanoparticles and has a pH of at least 8. Combining the colloidal dispersion and the fatty acid initiates gelation of the lost-circulation material when the pH of the lost-circulation material is less than 8 and a temperature of the lost-circulation material is in a range of 5° C. to 300° C. Sealing an opening in a portion of a wellbore or a portion of a subterranean formation in which the wellbore is formed may include providing the aqueous colloidal dispersion and the fatty acid to the wellbore, mixing the colloidal dispersion and the fatty acid to yield the lost-circulation material, initiating gelation of the lost-circulation material, and solidifying the lost-circulation material in the wellbore to yield a set gel.

Abstract: A method of producing a synthetic functionalized additive including the steps of mixing an amount of a magnesium salt with a fluid medium to produce a magnesium-containing fluid, adding an amount of a silane to the magnesium-containing fluid to produce a reactant mix, adding an amount of an aqueous hydroxide to the reactant mix to produce a reaction mixture, mixing the reaction mixture for a mix period, refluxing the reaction mixture for a reflux period to produce a product mix, treating the product mix to separate the synthetic functionalized additive.

Abstract: A polymer composite formed from an epoxy based polymer and an amino-graphene. The epoxy based polymer forms a polymer matrix and the amino graphene is dispersed throughout the polymer matrix. Further, a graphene is functionalized with 3,5-dinitrophenyl groups to form functionalized graphene and one or more amine functional groups form Meisenheimer complexes with the functionalized graphene to form the amino-graphene. An associated method of making the polymer composite is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated refinery process for removing mercaptans from a hydrocarbon stream containing mercaptans and converting by-product disulfide oil to useful products. The process includes introducing the hydrocarbon stream containing mercaptans into an extraction vessel containing an alkaline solution and passing the hydrocarbon stream through an extraction section of the extraction vessel which includes one or more liquid-liquid contacting decks for reaction to convert the mercaptans to alkali metal alkanethiolates. Further, the process includes withdrawing a hydrocarbon product stream free of mercaptans from the extraction vessel and recovering spent caustic containing alkali metal alkanethiolates from the extraction vessel.

Abstract: Systems to drive a downhole pump include an enclosure body with a magnetically transparent wall. A magnetic driver or a stationary member with coil windings in slots is disposed outside the enclosure body. A magnetic follower or a movable member with one or more permanent magnets is disposed inside the enclosure body such that the magnetic follower or movable member is exposed to a different environment compared to the magnetic driver or stationary member. The magnetic driver and magnetic follower, or the stationary member and movable member, are separated by a gap containing at least a portion of the magnetically transparent wall. A prime mover is operatively coupled to the magnetic driver. A rod couples the magnetic follower or the movable member to the downhole pump. Movement of the rod with the magnetic follower or the movable member operates the pump.

Abstract: A method for stimulating a well includes mixing at least one thermochemical with fracturing fluid to create a fracturing fluid mixture, injecting the fracturing fluid mixture into the well, creating an exothermic reaction with the fracturing fluid mixture, generating a pressure pulse in the well from the exothermic reaction, and fracturing a formation around the well with pressure from the pressure pulse and a hydraulic pressure source.

Abstract: A process to produce pitch, the process comprising the steps of introducing a depressurized effluent to a flash column; separating the depressurized effluent in the flash column to produce a liquid product; introducing the liquid product to a dweller; operating the dweller at a temperature between 350° C. and 500° C., a pressure between 0.1 psig and 10 psig, and a residence time between 30 minutes and 4 hours to produce a pitch stream and a reaction gas stream, wherein the dweller is a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), wherein dehydrogenative polymerization reactions occur in the dweller to produce pitch, wherein the inert gas stream is operable to remove volatile components from the liquid product; removing a pitch stream from the dweller, wherein the pitch stream comprises the pitch; and removing a reaction gas stream, wherein the reaction gas stream comprises the volatile components and nitrogen.

Abstract: Systems include a floating device disposed on a top of a column of drilling fluid in an annulus of a wellbore. The floating device includes a capsule. A transmitter or a reflector may be coupled to the capsule. The floating device may transmit signals to a surface region from the annulus or receive signals from the surface region and reflect at least a portion of the received signals. A receiver in the surface region receives transmitted signals or reflected signals from the floating device and determines a distance between the floating device and a reference point in the surface region. The distance indicates a level of the drilling fluid in the annulus.