Abstract: The present invention relates to artificially reducing the porosity of any potential flow paths in the near-wellbore region of a well or in permeable zones within or surrounding a well. In doing so, the permeability in this the targeted region will be significantly reduced, thus, preventing unwanted flow of subsurface fluids. The present invention concerns a method comprising applying a first and second solution comprising scale precursors to the porous media, wherein following this application, at least a portion of the scale precursors form at least two insoluble salts. Additionally, the present invention concerns a kit of parts comprising the first and second solutions.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one example, a method that includes introducing a drill-in fluid into a production zone of a subterranean formation, where the drill-in fluid includes water, a hydrophobically modified starch, a dual oil and water soluble surfactant, and a bridging agent, extending a borehole through the production zone, and forming a filter cake in the production zone where the filter cake includes a plurality of oleophilic channels is formed within the filter cake.

Abstract: A thixotropic slurry material can be used in a wellbore during a wellbore operation. The wellbore operation can include a drilling operation, a cementing operation, or any other suitable operation that may include injecting a liquid material into the wellbore. The thixotropic slurry material can be a mixture of a cement, a clay mineral, and a suspending agent and can be injected into a wellbore during the wellbore operation.

Abstract: Carbonates, such as chalk and limestone, are rather soft minerals and may lose at least some mechanical integrity after undergoing stimulation. For instance, carbonate minerals may experience proppant embedment or asperity weakening after fracturing or matrix acidizing. Methods for hardening a carbonate mineral may comprise: introducing an aqueous carrier fluid comprising an ammonium phosphate salt into a subterranean formation comprising a carbonate mineral, and interacting the carbonate mineral with the ammonium phosphate salt to convert at least a portion of the carbonate mineral into a hydroxyapatite mineral. The subterranean formation may exhibit an increased hardness after forming the hydroxyapatite mineral. The ammonium phosphate salt may be diammonium hydrogen phosphate in some examples.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a diverting agent that can exhibit sufficient filling properties against a fracture in a well in an excavation method using a hydraulic fracturing method, and that is excellent in solubility after a predetermined period of time has passed. The diverting agent of the present invention contains a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin having an average polymerization degree of 1000 or more.

Abstract: A method may include: introducing a resin modified cement slurry into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, the subterranean formation comprising a caprock and a carbon dioxide injection zone, the resin modified cement slurry comprising: a resin; a hardener; a hydraulic cement; and water; and setting the resin modified cement slurry to form a set cement wherein the set cement forms a carbonation-resistant barrier in the carbon dioxide injection zone in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The method of fluid loss control is provided for the case of high-rate fluid loss. Two treatment fluids are provided, where a first treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid, solids and a first polyelectrolyte, and a second treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a second polyelectrolyte. Two polyelectrolytes in both treatment fluids are oppositely charged under the pumping conditions, being taken from the classes of polyanionic and polycationic polymers. Two treatment fluids are pumped separately to the zone with fluid loss. The mixing of two treatment fluids into the well creates low-permeability agglomerates that plugs the fluid leakage channel, preventing or reducing further fluid movement between the wellbore and subterranean formation. The plugging of thief zone can be temporary or permanent.

Abstract: Proppant particulates like sand are commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations to maintain one or more fractures in an opened state following the release of hydraulic pressure. Fracturing fluids and methods of hydraulic fracturing may also use proppant particulates composed of high-flow polyolefin coated mineral particles (referred to as high-flow polyolefin coated mineral proppant particulates). In some instances, the high-flow polyolefin-coated mineral proppant particulates have a particle density of equal to or less than about 1.35 grams per cubic centimeter, and further may be prepared using a one-pot hot melt process.

Abstract: A treatment fluid and method for water shut-off applications containing an amine-functionalized solid support, an epoxy resin, a second curing agent, and a carrier fluid. Prior to use of the treatment fluid, the amine-functionalized solid support has reacted with carbon dioxide to produce a carbamate-functionalized solid support. The treatment fluid is introduced into a geological formation with high-permeability pathways, curing the epoxy resin, and sealing these pathways.

Abstract: A method for evaluating induced fractures in a wellbore includes obtaining a first set of data in a wellbore using a downhole tool. The method also includes pumping a first proppant into the wellbore after the first set of data is obtained. The first proppant includes a first tracer that is not radioactive. The method also includes pumping a second proppant into the wellbore. The second proppant includes a second tracer that is not radioactive. The second tracer is different than the first tracer. The first proppant and the second proppant flow into fractures in the wellbore. The method also includes obtaining a second set of data in the wellbore using the downhole tool after the first and second proppants are pumped into the wellbore. The method also includes comparing the first and second sets of data.

Abstract: A well system includes a well extending from a surface into a formation, a Y-tool provided at an end of a tubing string extending through the well, a concentric coiled tubing string extending through the tubing string and through a bypass line of the Y-tool, and a plurality of treatment solutions provided at the surface of the well. The plurality of treatment solutions includes at least one component of a dissolvable gel, a gel dissolving solution, and at least one component of a non-dissolvable gel. A method for plugging a water zone in a hydrocarbon bearing formation and a method for reducing a concentration of produced water from a hydrocarbon bearing formation are also described.

Abstract: A eutectic metal alloy is placed through a coiled tubing into a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation. The eutectic metal alloy includes a mixture of multiple metals. The eutectic metal alloy has a melting temperature that is less than a melting temperature of each individual metal of the multiple metals making up the eutectic metal alloy. The eutectic metal alloy is heated to a temperature equal to or greater than the melting temperature of the eutectic metal alloy to liquefy the eutectic metal alloy. The liquefied eutectic metal alloy is flowed from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation, thereby exposing the liquefied eutectic metal alloy to a specified downhole temperature within the subterranean formation and causing the liquefied eutectic metal alloy to solidify to form a seal. The seal prevents fluid from flowing from the wellbore and into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A cement slurry including graphene, a cement, and water; the graphene comprises bioderived renewable graphene (BRG). The cement slurry has reduced transient gel formation relative to a same cement slurry absent the graphene. Methods of mitigating transient gels in cement are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides environmentally-friendly compositions and methods for recovering oil from oil sands. The present invention can also be used for reducing the viscosity and/or increasing the API gravity of oil. In specific embodiments, the invention utilizes compositions comprising biochemical-producing microorganisms and microbial growth by-products, such as biosurfactants, as well as cavitation, to enhance oil recovery.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein generally relate to a method that includes using a low-shear addition system at a centralized facility to add a friction-reducing additive to a fluid to produce friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing slurry. The method also includes conveying the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing slurry from the centralized facility to at least one fracturing site. The method further includes injecting the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing slurry into a reservoir to stimulate at least one well at the at least one fracturing site.

Abstract: Invert emulsions can be used in oil and gas operations. A fluid loss control additive (FLCA) is a component of the fluid that can be utilized to control or minimize fluid loss into a subterranean formation. The FLCA can be a chemically modified vegetable oil that is biodegradable. Vegetable oils having some or all of the functional groups sulfonated can be used as FLCA. A water-soluble salt that has been dissolved in the discontinuous phase of the invert emulsion can combine with the FLCA to form a wax-like, solid mass.

Abstract: A system for producing CO and CO2 to achieve an efficient oil recovery operation having de minimis undesirable gaseous emissions is provided. The system includes a portable CO producing device and a portable CO2 producing device located proximate to the reservoir and a gas collecting device configured to receive CO and CO2 and selectively distribute a desired ratio of CO and CO2 dynamically based on current reservoir conditions. Producing CO2 proximate to the reservoir comprises reforming carbon based fuel within oxygen. Electrical energy generated is used to selectively distribute the desired ratio of CO/CO2 to the reservoir with de minimis greenhouse gases produced transmitted into the atmosphere. The system is an energy efficient arrangement that recycles and reuses by-products and unused products from the process. Greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced compared to conventional processes by-products are fully utilized.

Abstract: An aqueous fluid is gelled in a productive zone of a subterranean formation to create a temporary fluid-impermeable barrier. The fluid contains nanoparticles, a polyacrylamide having a weight average molecular weight from about 1.5 million to 22 million Dalton and an encapsulated liquid crosslinking agent. Upon release of the liquid crosslinking agent, the barrier is formed by crosslinking the polyacrylamide. The nanoparticles remain dispersed in the crosslinked gel. The fluid-impermeable barrier is effective over a period of at least 1 hour up to 2 weeks while the downhole temperature in the well is at least 300° C.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations to mitigate lost circulation are provided. The methods of the present disclosure include forming a treatment fluid including one or more geopolymer lost circulation materials; introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that includes at least one loss zone; activating the geopolymer lost circulation materials to form a geopolymer that imparts a thixotropic property to the treatment fluid; and allowing the treatment fluid exhibiting the thixotropic property to at least partially reduce a rate of loss associated with the loss zone.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally friendly drilling fluid that has excellent cuttings transport capability and excellent hole cleaning capability. A drilling fluid according to the present disclosure is a drilling fluid containing water, biodegradable fibers, and a thickener. The thickener contains a biodegradable polysaccharide. The content of the biodegradable polysaccharide in the drilling fluid is greater than or equal to 0.01 g/L and less than or equal to 5 g/L.