Abstract: The embodiments herein relate generally to subterranean formation operations and, more particularly, to enhancing complex fracture networks in subterranean formations by maximizing the exposed surface area to enable increased production rates. The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to increasing fracture network complexity and thus enhancing production within a subterranean formation using a plurality of fluid stages and a combination with liquid or solid electrically controlled propellants (ECPs), various electroconductive particulate sizes (EPs), and a source of electrical voltage.

Abstract: Aqueous liquid which has been in contact with a subterranean geological formation, especially a hydrocarbon reservoir, is examined in order to detect or measure viscosifying polymer therein, by flowing a sample of the liquid through a constriction thereby causing extensional flow and alignment of any polymer molecules with the flow, and examining the solution for birefringence of aligned polymer molecules. The amount of birefringence is determined from intensity of light which has passed through the solution relative to intensity of the light source.

Abstract: A method for enhancing wellbore integrity and/or for sealing a wellbore by sealing formation or micro-annulus fractures in a wellbore. Such sealing can be at least partially accomplished by the use of timed expansion of an expandable sealant material that is placed a wellbore. The expansion of the expandable sealant material causes the cement surface or formation surface to be compressed, thereby creating a tight seal and/or eliminating annulus cracking, fracture, and/or gas channels in the wellbore. A degradable polymer can be used when restoration of the wellbore formation is desired.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to methods and compositions delaying the gelation of polymers in water flooding by sequentially or co-injecting a carboxylate-containing polymer solution, a gel-delaying polymer, and gelation agent into a hydrocarbon reservoir. Delays of weeks are observed.

Abstract: A coated article, such as a proppant, includes a base substrate and one or more polyurethane based coatings on an outer surface of the base substrate. The one or more polyurethane based coatings including the reaction product of an isocyanate component that has at least one isocyanate and an isocyanate-reactive component that has one or more simple polyols and one or more polyether monols at a ratio from 1:18 to 18:1. An isocyanate index is greater than 0.2 and less than 1.0.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing a lost circulation zone of a subterranean well include extending a drill string into the subterranean well. The drill string has an ultrasonic system, an actuator, and a fluid flow path. The actuator is instructed to transmit an on signal to the ultrasonic system to switch the ultrasonic system to an on condition with the ultrasonic system generating ultrasound waves directed towards the fluid flow path. A loss circulation material is delivered into the fluid flow path. The loss circulation material has an epoxy resin and a capsule containing a cross-linker. The capsule is formed of a capsule polymer operable to release the cross-linker upon exposure to an ultrasound irradiation. The loss circulation material is exposed to the ultrasound waves to irradiate the capsule polymer and release the cross-linker from the capsule. The loss circulation material is delivered to the lost circulation zone.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of cementing at least a portion of a well comprising feeding a magnetorheological cementitious slurry to a well and applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological cementitious slurry concurrent with at least a portion of said feeding step to cause a mechanical response in said magnetorheological cementitious slurry in the well. Also disclosed herein are methods of temporarily blocking at least a portion of a well comprising providing a magnetorheological fluid in a well, applying a magnetic field to cause a mechanical response in said magnetorheological fluid thereby blocking at least a portion of the well, and removing the magnetic field to unblock the portion of the well. Also disclosed herein is a magnetorheological cement.

Abstract: A water-based drilling fluid for deepwater drilling includes 0.1%-1.0% by weight of a viscosifier, 0.1%-1.0% by weight of an acidity regulator, 0.5%-3.5% by weight of a filtrate loss reducer, 0.5%-1.5% by weight of a low-temperature yield point enhancer, 1.0%-5.0% by weight of a shale inhibitor, 15%-25% by weight of a hydrate inhibitor, 1.0%-3.0% by weight of a lubricant, 5.0%-10.0% by weight of a temporary plugging agent and seawater.

Abstract: An invert emulsion composition which includes a base fluid having an oleaginous phase and a non-oleaginous phase, an emulsifier, and wherein the oleaginous phase includes a mixture of vegetable oil and an oil other than vegetable oil. The composition may also include particles such as proppants or gravel, which may be coated prior to introduction to the composition to assist in stabilization the emulsion. The invert emulsion composition can be employed in fracturing, gravel packing, and diversion operations, and the like.

Abstract: Methods for treating subterranean wells involve treating fluids that contain water and a plurality of water dispersible nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be nanocellulose, rod-like nanoparticles, nanotubes or halloysite or combinations thereof. The water dispersible nanoparticles form one or more aggregates that plug formation pores and may control fluid flow into the formation as well as fluid flow from the formation into a wellbore.

Abstract: The present invention discloses liquid quaternary ammonium salts that can be used to treat and coat the surfaces of the proppant sand or inorganic particles that are used in down-hole oil well fracturing operations as well as the containment structure and that these treated surfaces will cause water and oils to flow faster through the porous structure. These liquid quaternary ammonium salts can be chosen from a list that includes but is not limited to cocobis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylammonium ethyl sulfate, benzylcocobis(hydroxyethyl)ammonium 2-ethylhexylsulfate, dibenzylcocobishydroxyethyl ammonium phenolsulfonate, didecyldimethyl-ammonium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and tallow-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylammonium ethyl sulfate.

Abstract: A device is for directing a fluid flow in an annulus around a pipe string in a horizontal or deviated well. The device has an orientation sensing member adapted to distinguish between the high-side and the low-side of the borehole along the well path. A fluid direction member is adapted to impede the fluid flow in one portion of the annulus so as to at the same time increase the fluid flow in another portion of the annulus; and an activation member for activating the fluid direction member in the well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cementing a casing string in a wellbore includes installing an expandable port collar in the casing string; providing cement from the casing string through at least one aperture in a wall of the port collar to an annular area surrounding the port collar; and expanding the port collar to increase its inner diameter.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to removing residue from a well bore and well bore equipment with a treatment fluid composition, and in some embodiments, to treatment fluid compositions that comprise nanoparticles. An embodiment provides a method of removing drilling fluid residue from the surfaces of well equipment. The method comprising: applying a solid nanoparticle film to at least a portion of the surfaces of the well equipment with a treatment fluid comprising solid nanoparticles; and allowing the solid nanoparticles to interact with the surfaces of the well equipment and the drilling fluid residue adhered to the surfaces of the well equipment to remove at least a portion of the drilling fluid residue from the surfaces of the well equipment.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a tool within a tubular segment or a tubular tool, wherein the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool is provided with one or more pluralities of grooves, each defining a selected profile. A downhole tool is lowered into the tubular segment or tubular tool, having a blade in communication therewith. The blade includes a plurality of protruding members thereon, which define a profile complementary to one of the selected profiles formed by one of the pluralities of grooves. A biasing member biases the blade toward the interior surface of the tubular segment or tubular tool to engage the protruding members of the blade within the complementary profile of the tubular segment or the tubular tool. The system and method further include a slip and wedge assembly usable to position a tubular segment or tubular tool within a tubular member or wellbore.

Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation containing shale includes introducing to the subterranean formation a shale stabilizer, a surfactant, and a triggering agent simultaneously with or prior to introducing an alkali silicate to the subterranean formation, and allowing the alkali silicate and triggering agent to react to form a reaction product. Methods include coating the surface of at least a portion of the shale with the reaction product.

Abstract: A method of performing a fracture operation at a wellsite is disclosed for a wellsite positioned about a subterranean formation having a wellbore therethrough and a fracture network therein. The fracture network includes natural fractures. The method involves generating wellsite parameters of the wellsite comprising seismic measurements, generating smooth fracture parameters of a smooth fracture by solving governing equations based on the wellsite parameters, and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture by identifying ledge locations and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture at the ledge locations by solving the governing equations based on the wellsite parameters for the ledge locations.

Abstract: A method may include circulating a breaker fluid into a wellbore having a filtercake on the walls thereon, the filter cake including copolymer formed from at least one acrylamide monomer and at least one sulfonated anionic monomer, the breaker fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a mixture of hydrolysable esters of dicarboxylic acids.

Abstract: A drill string apparatus includes an upper casing section having a port collar. The port collar provides a controllable opening from an interior of the upper casing section to an annulus around the upper casing section. A lower casing section is coupled to the upper casing section through a swivel. The lower casing section includes an external casing packer and a casing pad coupled to an external portion of the lower casing section. The external casing packer is expandable to an annulus around the lower casing section before a cement operation to avoid cement loss circulation to weak formation below the packer.