Abstract: Methods that comprise: providing a carrier fluid comprising a delayed breaker; providing a plurality of proppant aggregates comprising a binder fluid and a filler material; suspending the plurality of proppant aggregates in the carrier fluid; introducing the carrier fluid into the subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture, the carrier fluid comprising the plurality of proppant aggregates suspended therein; allowing the carrier fluid to break so as to reduce the viscosity of the carrier fluid; and recovering at least a portion of the carrier fluid from the at least one fracture wherein at least a substantial portion of the plurality of proppant aggregates remains in the at least one fracture so as to create a high porosity propped fracture.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for controlling the migration of particulates within a portion of a subterranean formation that comprise aqueous tackifying treatment fluids, curable resin compositions, and/or noncurable resin compositions.

Abstract: A method of drilling well bore (20) through and below permeable formation (22) bearing such fluids as gas, oil, water wherein drill cuttings may be evacuated by formation fluid (23) being produced through the drill string (26) either by decreasing well head back pressure or by gas lift. Production rate is kept substantially stable by operating choke valves (140) and (142) placed after separator (52). Formation fluid being produced while drilling may be pumped into well bore (20) through annulus (31) or utilized. The unique injector included in the drill string provides for possibility to pump simultaneously into annulus (31) lifting gas and produced liquid and may be operated from the surface. A method and system (90) comprising a plurality of special 3-way valves included in drill string (26), are provided for making connections without interrupting flushing the well bore.

Abstract: Some methods are provided that comprise: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, and a stimuli-degradable gel formed by a reaction comprising a gelling agent, and a stimuli-degradable cross linking agent that includes at least one degradable group and two unsaturated terminal groups; placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the stimuli-degradable gel to degrade.

Abstract: Disclosed are acid fracturing methods for subterranean siliceous formations employing a viscous dissolving fluid to create a permeable conduit that bypasses the near wellbore damage. The viscous dissolving fluids used according to the invention are acid-fracturing treatment fluids containing a dissolving agent viscosified with a material such as a viscoelastic surfactant, and the fluid is injected into a sandstone formation at a pressure sufficient to create a hydraulic fracture. Also, the viscous dissolving fluid leaks off into the faces of the fracture thus “stimulating” the formation. Hence when the hydraulic fracture has closed there is a part of the formation that has been effectively stimulated, creating a pathway for fluids to preferentially flow to the wellbore. The formation may then be flowed back to produce a substantial volume of the treatment fluid.

Abstract: A method of sealing an expandable tubular within a bore comprises the steps of providing an expandable tubular describing a first diameter and having a sealing medium on its outer surface, running the tubular into a bore and expanding the tubular within the bore to describe a second larger diameter, and activating the sealing medium to facilitate provision of a seal between the tubular and the bore.

Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous base fluid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated diverting methods of use. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing the treatment fluid to divert at least a portion of a second fluid to a different portion of the subterranean formation. Also provided are methods of diverting a fluid from a portion of a subterranean formation. In some instances, the treatment fluids exhibit viscoelastic behavior which may be due, at least in part, to the association of at least a portion of the methyl ester sulfonate surfactant into a plurality of micellar structures.

Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous based fluid, a water-soluble salt, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated methods. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subterranean formation is provided, the method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a water-soluble salt, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation. Also provided are methods of fracturing a subterranean formation, and methods of removing formation particulates from a well bore or a near well bore region. In some instances, the treatment fluids exhibit viscoelastic behavior which may be due, at least in part, to the association of at least a portion of the methyl ester sulfonate surfactant into a plurality of micellar structures.

Abstract: A method is described for treating a subterranean formation with a low viscosity fluid system that contains a surfactant or mixture of surfactants that does not divert fluid flow in the formation, but that develops the ability to divert flow as the fluid flows through the formation. The fluid optionally contains a formation-dissolving agent. The fluid is used in matrix acidizing, acid fracturing, and diversion.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid for use in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the fluid comprising: (a) water; (b) an orthoester; and (c) a surfactant comprising a tertiary alkyl amine ethoxylate generally represented by the following formula: wherein R is an alkyl group or aryl group, and wherein X and Y are each independently at least one. The invention also provides a method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising the step of forming a foamed fracturing fluid comprising water; an orthoester; a surfactant comprising a tertiary alkyl amine ethoxylate generally represented by the formula above; and a gas. The method also provides the step of introducing the foamed fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create a fracture in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Compositions are given that have high viscosities at one pH range and low viscosities at another pH range. Methods are given for using such compositions in oilfield treatments. In particular CT wellbore cleanout compositions and methods are given in which a viscous fluid is injected into a wellbore; the fluid entrains particles and carries them to the surface; the viscosity of the fluid is reduced by reducing or increasing the pH; the particles settle from the fluid; the viscosity of the fluid is increased by increasing or reducing the pH; and the fluid is re-injected into the wellbore. Suitable surfactants are anionic surfactants, or mixtures of surfactants containing anionic surfactants, that aggregate into three-dimensional structures that substantially increase the viscosity at high pH but not at low pH. Other suitable surfactants are cationic surfactants with co-surfactants that aggregate below a certain pH but not above.

Abstract: Downhole tools that include an outer tubing disposed around an inner tubing for placement of a sealant mixture into a void in a subterranean formation and associated methods of use are provided. Furthermore, a method is provided for preparing a cement composition, which includes mixing a first cementitious component and an aqueous-based fluid in a first mixer to form an intermediate cement composition, and mixing the intermediate cement composition and a second cementitious component in a second mixer to form the cement composition.

Abstract: A method of propping at least one fracture in a subterranean formation, that comprises forming a plurality of proppant aggregates, each proppant aggregate comprising a binding fluid and a filler material, and introducing the plurality of proppant aggregates into the at least one fracture, is provided. Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation also are provided.

Abstract: Methods of removing a fluid from a well bore with a chemical wash composition, and more particularly, methods of using chemical wash compositions comprising water, a sulfonated lignin, and a taurate are provided. In one embodiment, a method of at least partially removing a fluid from a well bore surface is provided that comprises: providing a chemical wash composition comprising water, a sulfonated lignin, and a taurate; and contacting the well bore surface with the chemical wash composition to thereby at least partially remove the fluid from the well bore surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aqueous delayed-gelation solution and a method of selectively placing a delayed-gelation solution in a hydrocarbon well. According to the invention, the aqueous delayed-gelation solution a dissolved metal salt which, in use, hydrolyses to form a gel, wherein the solution contains suspended inorganic particles and the method comprises the steps of—providing the aqueous delayed-gelation solution, and—injecting the solution into the hydrocarbon well, whereby the suspended inorganic particles reduce or block the flow of the delayed-gelation solution to relatively low permeability formation zones thereby selectively placing the solution in a relatively high permeability formation zone. Applications of the invention relate to the treatment of hydrocarbon wells.

Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ gasification of coal wherein a network of fractures is formed by providing a substantially vertically disposed borehole and a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed boreholes in fluid communication with the substantially vertically disposed borehole, at least one substantially horizontally disposed boreholes being a fracturing borehole, at least one substantially horizontally disposed boreholes being an injection borehole and at least one substantially horizontally disposed boreholes being an injection borehole. An initial quantity of liquified gas is introduced into the at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole whereby the liquified gas vaporizes forms fractures in the formation.

Abstract: Particulate compositions that comprise macro-particulates, and degradable particulates in an amount sufficient to reduce friction between the macro-particulates, the degradable particulates having a mean particle diameter of at least about 20 times smaller than the mean particle diameter of the macro-particulates are disclosed herein. Also disclosed are fluids that comprise a liquid component, and a particulate composition, the particulate composition comprising macro-particulates and degradable particulates having a mean particle diameter of at least about 20 times smaller than the mean particle diameter of the macro-particulates, wherein the degradable particulates are present in the particulate composition in an amount sufficient to reduce friction between the macro-particulates. Methods of using the particulate compositions and fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ production of oil shale and gas (methane) hydrates wherein a network of fractures is formed by injecting liquified gases into at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole. Heat is thereafter applied to liquify the kerogen or to dissociate the gas (methane) hydrates so that oil shale oil and/or gases can be recovered from the fractured formations.

Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated methods of use. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the treatment fluid to react with at least a portion of the subterranean formation so that at least one void is formed in the subterranean formation. In some instances, the treatment fluids exhibit viscoelastic behavior which may be due, at least in part, to the association of at least a portion of the methyl ester sulfonate surfactant into a plurality of micellar structures.