Abstract: The extraction of hydrocarbon fuel products such as kerogen oil and gas from a body of fixed fossil fuels such as oil shale is accomplished by applying a combination of electrical energy and critical fluids with reactants and/or catalysts down a borehole to initiate a reaction of reactants in the critical fluids with kerogen in the oil shale thereby raising the temperatures to cause kerogen oil and gas products to be extracted as a vapor, liquid or dissolved in the critical fluids. The hydrocarbon fuel products of kerogen oil or shale oil and hydrocarbon gas are removed to the ground surface by a product return line. An RF generator provides electromagnetic energy, and the critical fluids include a combination of carbon dioxide (CO2), with reactants of nitrous oxide (N2O) or oxygen (O2).

Abstract: A system of obtaining hydrogen from a coal seam by providing a production well that extends into the coal seam; positioning a conduit in the production well leaving an annulus between the conduit and the coal gasification production well, the conduit having a wall; closing the annulus at the lower end to seal it from the coal gasification cavity and the syngas; providing at least a portion of the wall with a bifunctional membrane that serves the dual purpose of providing a catalyzing reaction and selectively allowing hydrogen to pass through the wall and into the annulus; and producing the hydrogen through the annulus.

Abstract: Methods of cementing in a subterranean formation are provided. An exemplary embodiment comprises introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation. The cement composition comprises water, a cement and a fluid loss control additive comprising a graft polymer. The graft polymer comprises a backbone comprising a lignite. The graft polymer further comprises grafted monomers selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acrylamide, acrylic acid, vinylphosphonic acid, diallyldimethylammonium chloride and salts thereof.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation comprising placing in the wellbore a composition comprising a metal oxide, a soluble salt, a surfactant and an oleaginous fluid, and allowing the composition to set. A method of cementing a wellbore comprising placing a first composition comprising magnesium oxide, a chloride or phosphate salt, an organophilic surfactant and an oleaginous fluid into a wellbore, allowing the composition to set, placing a second cementitious composition into the wellbore, and allowing the second cementitious composition to set. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising placing in the wellbore a composition comprising magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, an organophilic surfactant, water and an oleaginous fluid wherein the organophilic surfactant is present in an amount of from about 0.

Abstract: Methods for using rapid setting plugging compositions comprising oil, clay, magnesium chloride, and magnesium oxide powder to seal permeable zones in subterranean formations are provided. The permeable zones may be sealed by passing the plugging composition and water to the subterranean formation. While being exposed to downhole temperatures in a range of from about 0° F. to about 500° F., the plugging composition quickly thickens to form a sealing mass that is substantially impermeable to fluid in less than about 1 minute after contacting the water. It then usually develops an effective amount of compressive strength to prevent it from being washed away within a period ranging from about 5 minutes to about 2 hours at temperatures ranging from about 0° F. to about 500° F.

Abstract: A method for treating solid materials is disclosed, where the treating compositions coats surfaces or portions of surfaces of the solid materials changing an aggregation or agglomeration propensity of the materials. Treated solid materials are also disclosed. The methods and treated materials are ideally suited for oil field applications.

Abstract: A method of treatment of subterranean formations in which leakoff through natural fractures is controlled through the use of fibers. The method involves pumping a mixture of a formation treatment fluid and a fiber into the formation for matrix stimulation, fracture stimulation, diversion, and/or water control. In carbonate formations, the formation treatment fluid is preferably an in situ gelled acid. The method optionally also involves pumping the same or a different formation treatment fluid without fiber.

Abstract: Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities reduced (gels broken) by the direct or indirect action of a breaker composition that contains at least one mineral oil, at least one polyalphaolefin oil, and/or at least one saturated fatty acid. The breaker may initially be dispersed oil droplets in an internal, discontinuous phase of the fluid. In one non-limiting embodiment, the breaker, e.g. mineral oil is added to the fluid after it has been substantially gelled. The breaking composition is believed to act possibly by rearranging, disaggregating or otherwise attacking the micellar structure of the VES-gelled fluid in a non-spontaneous, rate controlled manner at elevated fluid temperatures. In a specific, non-limiting instance, a brine fluid gelled with an amine oxide surfactant can have its viscosity broken with a light, low viscosity paraffinic mineral oil.

Abstract: In a system and method of fracturing a subterranean formation, fluid for perforating is received in a downhole tool through a tubing string, the downhole tool residing in a wellbore. A wall of the wellbore is perforated proximate the downhole tool. A fluid for fracturing is received in the downhole tool through the tubing string. The subterranean formation proximate the downhole tool is fractured. The operations of receiving a fluid for perforating, perforating, receiving a fluid for fracturing, and fracturing are performed while keeping at least a portion of the downhole tool in the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation comprising providing a viscosified treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a gelling agent, providing a breaker composition that comprises an oxidizing breaker and a breaker activator that comprises a metal and a protein, allowing the viscosified treatment fluid to interact with the breaker composition, treating the subterranean formation with the viscosified treatment fluid, and allowing a viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to be reduced. Further, methods of reducing the viscosity of a viscosified treatment fluids and methods of activating oxidizing breakers are also provided.

Abstract: A clayish subterranean formation, such as may be encountered in rock surrounding a well bore during hydrocarbon recovery operations may be stabilized with relatively high molecular weight polyamine salts of an imide of polymaleic anhydride. The salts may be unneutralized or partially neutralized. The invention is particularly relevant to hydraulic fracturing fluids used in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions herein are made in the presence of a reactive solvent, such as a polyalkylene glycol, e.g. polyethylene glycol. The compositions of this invention are more environmentally friendly than some current technology.

Abstract: A method of cementing a wellbore comprising preparing a cement composition comprising a water-soluble aromatic sulfonated polymer, and placing the cement composition into the wellbore, wherein the cement composition develops a compressive strength of greater than about zero in less time than a similar cement composition having a comparable thickening time and lacking a water-soluble aromatic sulfonated polymer. A cement composition comprising a water-soluble aromatic sulfonated polymer, wherein the cement composition develops a compressive strength of greater than about zero in less time than a similar cement composition having comparable thickening time and lacking a water-soluble aromatic sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: Crosslinkable-polymer compositions that comprise a chitosan-based compound and a phenol source, and associated methods, are provided. Various methods of use are also provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise providing a crosslinkable-polymer composition comprising an aqueous fluid, a chitosan-based compound, a chitosan-reacting polymer, and a phenol source; introducing the crosslinkable-polymer composition into the portion of the subterranean formation; and allowing the crosslinkable-polymer composition to form a crosslinked gel in the portion of the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Novel polycarboxylic acid copolymer gelling agents and viscosified treatment fluids comprising these gelling agents, and their associated methods of use and manufacture are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprising: providing a viscosified treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, and a gelling agent that comprises a polymerizable polycarboxylic acid and that is at least partially crosslinked by a crosslinking reaction comprising a crosslinking agent; and introducing the viscosified treatment fluid into a subterranean formation is provided.

Abstract: Crosslinkable-polymer compositions are provided that may be useful for, among other things, reducing, stopping, or diverting the flow of fluids in subterranean formations. The crosslinkable-polymer compositions may comprise an aqueous fluid, a chitosan-reacting polymer, chitosan, and a gelation-retarding additive comprising an acid derivative. Various methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a spacer system for cleaning a section of a subterranean well borehole and casing prior to cementing. The spacer system of the invention comprises a at least one alkyl ether citrate and, optionally, at least one alcohol ethoxylate.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition for use in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the composition comprising: a) a solvent consisting essentially of a water-soluble solvent selected from the group consisting of any solvent that is at least 25% by weight soluble in water and any mixture of two or more thereof in any proportion, wherein the solvent is from about 90% to about 99.9% by weight of the composition; and b) a tackifying compound, wherein the tackifying compound is from about 0.01% to about 10% by weight of the composition; wherein the tackifying compound and the solvent are mutually selected such that, for the ratio of the tackifying compound to the solvent, the tackifying compound is soluble in the solvent. The invention also provides a method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming the composition; and b) introducing the composition through the wellbore into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for the characterization of injected fluid flow within a wellbore. Particular embodiments include injecting a slurry comprising a particulate material and a carrier fluid into an isolated wellbore annulus and acquiring composite density readings at one or more discrete locations along the annulus while depositing the particulate material. Interpreting the acquired composite density readings provides an evaluation of the placement of the deposited particulate material within the isolated wellbore annulus. A further step may include determining when the slurry reaches each of the discrete locations as indicated by increases in the composite density reading at each of the discrete locations and furthermore, acquiring a maximum composite density reading at each of the discrete locations along the tubular member as an indication of the quantity of deposited particulate material at each of the discrete locations.

Abstract: Methods of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising: providing an aqueous treatment fluid comprising water, and a friction reducing copolymer that comprises acrylamide and an acrylic acid ester; and introducing the aqueous treatment fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation. Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: providing an aqueous treatment fluid comprising water, and a friction reducing copolymer that comprises acrylamide and an acrylic acid ester; and introducing the aqueous treatment fluid into the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create one or more fractures in the subterranean formation. Aqueous treatment fluids comprising: an aqueous fluid and a friction reducing copolymer that comprises acrylamide and an acrylic acid ester.

Abstract: Methods for reducing density of a system fluid and performing drilling operations using a reduced density system fluid comprising aerogel.