Abstract: The current invention relates to the use of chitin nanocrystals and chitin nanocrystal derivatives. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of chitin nanocrystals and chitin nanocrystals used in oil and gas operations. The chitin nanocrystals and chitin nanocrystals derivatives can be used as additives to cement and wellbore fluids and can be used to inhibit corrosion in pipelines, on downhole tools and on other oil and gas related equipment.

Abstract: Methods for fluid monitoring in a subterranean formation can comprise: providing a diverting fluid comprising a diverting agent; introducing the diverting fluid into a subterranean formation comprising one or more subterranean zones; and monitoring a disposition of the diverting fluid within the subterranean formation using one or more integrated computational elements in optical communication with the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivery of thermal energy to horizontal wellbores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises heating a heat transfer fluid; circulating the heat transfer fluid into a vertical bore to a heat exchanger; advancing feedwater into the vertical bore to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the feedwater to generate steam; transmitting the steam from the heat exchanger into a horizontal wellbore to cause heating of a subterranean region; and returning the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger to the surface. The method may further comprise collecting liquefied formation in a second horizontal wellbore; and transmitting the liquefied formation to the surface through a production line.

Abstract: A produced water bacterial pretreatment method which includes a) optionally adjusting a pH and a temperature of a produced water containing bacteria; b) adding a cysteine protease to said produced water; c) allowing said cysteine protease to inactivate said bacteria, thus producing pretreated produced water; and d) introducing said pretreated produced water into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided.

Abstract: A proppant pack may be formed in a fracture that extends from a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation and is accomplished through different methods. The methods involve providing multiple spaced apart proppant slugs within a hydraulic fracturing fluid that is introduced into the wellbore at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation.

Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing at least one source material; combining the at least one source material with a base fluid to form a treatment fluid; and monitoring a characteristic of the treatment fluid using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the treatment fluid.

Abstract: Methods of providing fluid loss control in a portion of a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a plurality of seeds; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore such that the seeds block openings in the subterranean formation to provide fluid loss control; and degrading the seeds over time within the subterranean formation. In some methods, the seeds are present in the treatment fluid in an amount of at least about 5 pounds per barrel. In addition, in some methods the seeds are preferably degradable.

Abstract: Particulate polymeric materials may be added to a cement slurry to adjust the linear thermal-expansion coefficient of the set cement. The coefficient of the set cement is optimized by considering the linear thermal-expansion coefficient of the casing, as well as the mechanical properties of the formation rock. When placed in a subterranean well having at least one casing string, cement sheaths with optimal linear thermal-expansion coefficients may be subjected to lower compressive and tensile stresses during downhole-temperature changes. Such cement slurries are particularly advantageous in the context of thermal-recovery wells.

Abstract: Compositions for well cementing comprise a pumpable slurry of cement, water and at least one additive that swells in contact with an underground fluid (hydrocarbon, water or brines or mixtures thereof). In case of failure of the cement matrix after setting, the additive swells when contacted by the underground fluid and restores zonal isolation. The swelling additive is an elastomer compounded with an aqueous inverse emulsion of particles of a polymer comprising a betaine group.

Abstract: Methods of resource recovery include reagents placed in a subterranean formation. The reagents generate heat, hydrogen gas and alkalinity which changes fluid flow characteristics. The forces of the reactions create fractures and cracks far from the well bore. These cracks and fractures are sealed if water is being transmitted through or near the reactions. As a result, the targeted fluids more efficiently flow to the well, along with decreased amounts of water waste, while stimulating generation of biogenic gases in the subterranean formations.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing an oil/gas separation process. One disclosed system includes a flow path containing a fluid, a fluid separator coupled to the flow path and having an inlet for receiving the fluid and a discharge conduit for discharging the fluid after having undergone a separation process in the fluid separator, an optical computing device having an integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid before the fluid enters the fluid separator and after the fluid exits the fluid separator and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid.

Abstract: Improved methods are provided for the application of downhole oil or gas well treating agents, such as liquid corrosion inhibition agents. The methods involve first lowering a liquid retainer device into a well casing, preferably at or above the location of the well production zone, followed by introduction of a liquid treating agent. The presence of the liquid retainer device prevents substantial passage of the agent into the production zone, and forms a column of the liquid agent above the device. The retainer device is then withdrawn from the well so as to create a substantially uniform film of the agent along the inner surfaces of the well casing. In this manner, proper coating of the casing is achieved while preventing production losses owing to passage of the treating agent into the production zone. The liquid retainer is preferably one or more swab cups or oil field retainers.

Abstract: An improved method of steam generation for thermal oil recovery by delivering the produced oil-water emulsion, together with a hot hydrocarbon liquid, to a flash vessel where most of the water is flashed off as steam, which can be used for injection in further thermal oil production; while the liquid phase, containing oil, entrained solids and some water is passed to a separator, where a portion of the oil is removed as sales product, most of the water and solids are removed as waste and the remaining oil and traces of water are recirculated to a heater and a flash vessel to provide heat for further processing. If desired, the produced water-oil emulsion may first be passed through a separator vessel which divides the emulsion into three streams, hydrocarbon liquid, gas and water; with hydrocarbon liquid being sent to a coalescer vessel to produce sales quality oil, the gases sent to a fuel or flare system and the water being treated as described above.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating a subterranean formation having at least one fracture. The methods include providing a thermal thinning resistant treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, proppant particulates, and a thermally activated suspending agent, wherein the thermally activated suspending agent is hydratable above a threshold temperature. The thermal thinning resistant treatment fluid is introduced into the subterranean formation and exceeds the threshold temperature so as to hydrate the thermally activated suspending agent. Furthermore, the proppant particulates are placed into the at least one fracture.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid having one or more adulterants therein. One method of monitoring the fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one adulterant present therein, optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one adulterant in the fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid for the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/or microorganisms and determining the effectiveness of a microbiological treatment. One method of monitoring a fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one microorganism present therein, optically interacting electromagnetic radiation from the fluid with at least one integrated computational element, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid being a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivery of thermal energy to horizontal wellbores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises heating a heat transfer fluid; circulating the heat transfer fluid into a vertical bore to a heat exchanger; advancing feedwater into the vertical bore to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to the feedwater to generate steam; transmitting the steam from the heat exchanger into a horizontal wellbore to cause heating of a subterranean region; and returning the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger to the surface. The method may further comprise collecting liquefied formation in a second horizontal wellbore; and transmitting the liquefied formation to the surface through a production line.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for analyzing a flow of a fluid at two or more discrete locations to determine the concentration of a substance therein. One method of determining a characteristic of a fluid may include containing a fluid within a flow path that provides at least a first monitoring location and a second monitoring location, generating a first output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the first monitoring location with a first optical computing device, generating a second output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid at the second monitoring location with a second optical computing device, receiving first and second output signals from the first and second optical computing devices, respectively, with a signal processor, and determining a difference between the first and second output signals with the signal processor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for extracting hydrocarbons from a tank including providing a facility having an injection well including at least one tube for steam injection, a production well including at least one hydrocarbon extraction tube, a set of measuring sensors, at least one hydrocarbon extracting pump in the production well, an automaton for controlling and monitoring the running of the facility; rejecting the steam into the injection well; extracting the hydrocarbons with the pump of the production well; and controlling speed of the pump depending on the difference between the measured temperature at the pump input and the evaporation temperature calculated on the basis of the measured pressure at the input of the pump. The method enables an increase in hydrocarbon production.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale. A mobile kerogen-based product which includes the organic acids is withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation and processed to isolate the organic acids contained therein. The isolated organic acids are upgraded by a reaction process that make the products suitable as refinery feedstocks, fuel or lubricant blendstocks, reaction intermediates, chemical feedstocks, or chemical intermediate blendstocks.