Abstract: Phosphate esters useful for gelling hydrocarbons in combination with a metal source are disclosed along with methods of preparation of the phosphate esters. Fouling in oil refinery towers has been attributed due to distillation of impurities present in phosphate esters used to gel hydrocarbons for oil well fracturing. The improved method of preparation of the phosphate ester results in a product that substantially reduces or eliminates volatile phosphorus, which is phosphorus impurities that distill up to 250° C., and increases the high temperature viscosity of the hydrocarbon gels formed using the phosphate esters.

Abstract: Many methods are provided including a method comprising: providing a surfactant gel having a first viscosity that comprises an aqueous base fluid and a surfactant; providing an ortho ester breaker; contacting the surfactant gel with the ortho ester breaker; allowing the ortho ester breaker to hydrolyze to produce an acid and an alcohol; and allowing the acid and/or the alcohol to interact with the surfactant gel so as to reduce the first viscosity of the surfactant gel to a second viscosity.

Abstract: A gravel packing system, method and slurry. The system comprises a blending device to prepare a slurry comprising a carrier fluid suspending first, second and third particulates, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a brine and less than about 2.4 g/L (20 lb per 1000 gallons) of a viscosifier, and wherein the sum of the mass of the particulates is greater than about 2.4 kg/L (20 pounds per gallon), wherein the first average particle volume is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the second average particle volume, which in turn is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the third average particle volume. The system can also include tubing to position a screen in the wellbore and a slurry pump to circulate the slurry from the blending device in the wellbore in any order such that the particulates are deposited in the screen annulus to form a gravel pack.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved lubrication in drilling and completion fluids used in subterrane drilling for oil and gas. The addition of zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) acts as a lubricant, an enhancer to other lubricants and rate of penetration enhancer.

Abstract: Naphthenic acid solids and/or emulsions can be inhibited by introducing an additive to crude oil prior to or concurrent with the deprotonation of the naphthenic acids present in the crude oil. The additives may be surfactants and can be amines, quaternary ammonium compounds, quaternary phosphonium compounds, and mixtures of both. The additives may also be linear compounds having at least two carboxylic acid or acrylic acid functional moieties.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydrolytically and hydrothermally stable consolidated proppants is described, in which (A) a consolidating agent comprising (A1) a hydrolysate or precondensate of at least one functionalized organosilane, a further hydrolyzable silane and at least one metal compound, the molar ratio of silicon compounds used to metal compounds used being in the range of 10 000:1 to 10:1, and (A2) an organic crosslinking agent are mixed with a proppant and (B) the consolidating agent is cured at elevated pressure and elevated temperature. The consolidated proppants obtained have high mechanical strength.

Abstract: A method to remove hydrate plugs in a production system by passing a non-hydrate-forming or a hydrate-forming gas, which forms hydrates at a higher pressure than the existing hydrate, through the flow-restricting hydrate.

Abstract: An iron control agent capable of reducing ferric iron containing compounds to ferrous iron containing compounds in an acidic solution, such as one used for formation acidizing. The iron control agent comprises a combination of a sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid, sulfite salts, bisulfite salts, or thiosulfate salts or mixtures thereof, with a source of copper ions and a source of iodine or iodine ions. The iron control agent may also include small amounts of an adjunct such as stannous chloride, 2-mercaptoethanol, and thioglycolic acid and its salts.

Abstract: A process for preparing a binder which comprises a heterocondensate of silicon compounds and metal and/or boron compounds. The process comprises mixing a silicon component which comprises (A), at least one hydrolyzable silicon compound having a non-hydrolyzable polymerizable group, with water to form a hydrolysis product, and 15 s to 15 min after mixing (A) with water, the addition of (B), at least one compound of boron or a metal selected from Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Ga, Sn, Pb, Ti, Zr, Hf, Sc, Y and La.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the finding that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially utilized in drilling fluids that are utilized in drilling subterreanean wells. For instance, it has been unexpectedly found that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially used as total or partial replacements for organoclays in oil based drilling fluids. The chlorosulfonated a-olefin copolymers that are useful in the practice of this invention are typically chlorosulfonated ethylene/octene copolymers or chlorosulfonated ethylene/butene copolymers. The utilization of chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers in oil-based drilling fluids offers (1) long service life at high operating temperatures, (2) minimal formation damage, (3) improved filtration behavior, and (4) highly effective performance at low viscosifier levels.

Abstract: Methods and compositions useful in treating subterranean formations, and more particularly, breaker compositions that may be useful in treating subterranean formations wherein synthetic polymers are used, are provided. Of the many methods and compositions provided herein, one composition comprises a source of hydrogen peroxide and an activator. One method comprises providing a polymer breaker composition comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide and an activator; introducing the polymer breaker composition into a well bore which penetrates a subterranean formation; allowing the activator to activate the source of hydrogen peroxide to create an oxidizing species; and allowing the oxidizing species to break synthetic polymers present in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Treatment fluids for and methods of treating subterranean formations are provided. In certain embodiments, a method is provided comprising providing a treatment fluid comprising a relative permeability modifier, a delayed filter cake breaker, and a carrier fluid, contacting at least a portion of a filter cake in a subterranean formation with the treatment fluid, and removing at least a portion of the filter cake.

Abstract: A non-toxic, environmentally friendly, green flowback aid is disclosed that reduces water blockage when injected into a fractured reservoir. The composition includes an water soluble ester of a low molecular weight alcohol and a low molecular weight organic acid, an oil soluble ester of a low molecular weight alcohol and a high molecular weight fatty acid, one or more water soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactant(s) derived from vegetable or animal sources, one or more anionic or amphoteric surfactant(s) derived from animal or vegetable based sources, and, water. Compositions for low temperature applications are also disclosed that can remain fluid down to ?41° F.

Abstract: An all-oil reversible gelling system includes a polymer, a crosslinker, a gel accelerator, and an oxidant, wherein temperature activates the crosslinker so as to cause the system to form a gel, and the oxidant subsequently decomposes the gel. This gel is designed to seal temporarily portions of oil-producing or water or gas injecting subterranean formations.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising the steps of formulating a treatment fluid and introducing the treatment fluid through the wellbore. The treatment fluid comprises water; diutan; and a sufficient amount of salt to increase the density of the treatment fluid to at least 8.5 lb/gal, wherein at least 50% by weight of the salt is selected from the group consisting of: bromide salts, non-bromide salts having a higher salting-in effect than bromide according to the Hofmeister series as measured by the salt's effect on the cloud point of poly(ethylene oxide) that has a molecular weight of 4×106, and any combination in any proportion thereof. The invention also provides a treatment fluid for use in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the treatment fluid comprising: water; diutan; and a sufficient amount of salt to increase the density of the treatment fluid to at least 8.

Abstract: An aqueous drilling fluid which contains a diquaternary ammonium cation functionalized clay which provides a substantially constant rheological profile, with respect to salinity, when incorporated into well drilling fluids. A clay/organic chemical composition includes: (a) montmorillonite clay and (b) one or more diquaternary ammonium compounds. A further aspect of the invention is a well drilling process which employs a drilling fluid containing the diquaternary ammonium cation functionalized clay described hereafter.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods that may be used for enhanced oil recovery, for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations and for increasing the mobilization and/or recovery rate of hydrocarbon fluids present in the formations. The compositions may include, for example, expandable cross-linked polymeric microparticles having unexpanded volume average particle size diameters of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns and cross linking agent contents of from about 100 to about 200,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and from 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers, wherein the expandable polymeric monomers have a block copolymer structure comprising at least two different monomers having different chemical structures.

Abstract: The use of a surfactant mixture comprising at least one surfactant having a hydrocarbon radical composed of from 12 to 30 carbon atoms and at least one cosurfactant having a branched hydrocarbon radical composed of from 6 to 11 carbon atoms for tertiary mineral oil extraction.

Abstract: Methods of treating a wellbore comprise displacing a drilling fluid comprising an organophilic clay treated with a quaternary ammonium surfactant having an amide linkage into the wellbore. Methods of drilling a wellbore comprise: applying torque to a bit within the wellbore and concurrently applying force to urge the bit to extend through the wellbore; and circulating a drilling fluid past the bit to remove cuttings therefrom, the drilling fluid comprising an organophilic clay treated with a quaternary ammonium surfactant having an amide linkage. Methods of preparing a drilling fluid comprise: forming an organophilic clay treated with a quaternary ammonium surfactant having an amide linkage; and combining the organophilic clay with an oil-based fluid.

Abstract: This relates to a method and composition for forming and utilizing a fluid in the oilfield services industry including exposing a polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a preparation method, introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a fluid to form a treatment fluid, and treating a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore with the treatment fluid, wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid is not observably reduced by introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a treatment fluid. This also relates to a method and composition for use in the oil field services industry including a prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative, a fluid, and a viscosity control agent, wherein the viscosity of the composition is not observably lower than if the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative were not present.