Abstract: A wellbore fluid may include an oleaginous fluid forming a continuous phase; a non-oleaginous fluid forming a discontinuous phase; at least one emulsifier stabilizing an emulsion of the non-oleaginous continuous phase within the oleaginous continuous phase; and at least one viscosifier dispersed into the oleaginous continuous phase in a concentration of at least 4 ppb; wherein upon subjecting the wellbore fluid to shear rate of at least 10,000 s-1, the emulsion is disrupted and the non-oleaginous fluid contacts the at least one viscosifier, thereby solidifying the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: Certain foamed gel treatment fluids and methods of using the treatment fluids in wellbores penetrating subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the treatment fluids comprise: an aqueous base fluid, a gas, a plurality of particulates, and a plurality of swellable particles each comprising a material having a first monomer, a second monomer, and a third monomer comprising a foamable surfactant. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: preparing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a swellable particle that comprises a material having a first monomer, a second monomer, and a third monomer comprising a foamable surfactant; introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and blending the treatment fluid while in the wellbore to form a foamed gel.

Abstract: A polymeric scale inhibitor composition and a method for inhibiting metal sulfide scale formation in a well are provided. The composition includes 80-82 mol % of a first monomeric unit, where the first monomeric unit is 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS). The composition also includes 2-18 mol % of a second monomeric unit selected from N-vinyl formamide, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. The composition further includes 2-18 mol % of a third monomeric unit selected from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and carboxyethyl acrylate. The polymeric scale inhibitors show superior adsorption characteristics on rocks and their subsequent release behavior allows for scale inhibition over extended time periods respectively at a significant volume of coreflood fluids. They are especially suited for downhole application via field scale squeeze treatments.

Abstract: Nano- and micro-particles (NMP) can be formed from an oil/water emulsion. The emulsion is made by mixing a liquid solvent, at least one surfactant, a particle-forming compound, and at least curing agent. If desired, pH control agents and viscosity enhancers can be added to the liquid solvent. The particle-forming compound and the curing agents are mixed together and form the oil phase in the emulsion and after curing, the particles are formed. The nano- and micro-particles can be used as proppant to enhance the conductivity of nano- and microfractures and fluid-loss-control additive for hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: Viscous degradable fluids for use in fluid loss control, diversion, gravel packing, fracturing, and acidizing operations, method of preparing the viscous degradable fluids, and methods of using the viscous degradable fluids in subterranean operations. At least one aliphatic polyester is dissolved in a solvent comprising triacetin to form a viscous degradable fluid. The viscous degradable fluid can be injected directly into a subterranean formation or mixed with other fluids and/or additives before being injected into the subterranean formation, where it can temporarily block or restrict flow through openings in the formation.

Abstract: A system and method for fracking a hydrocarbon formation. An actuating member, flowable along a production string, is provided. A unique key portion thereon engages a desired sliding sleeve covering an associated port in the production string. Applying uphole fluid pressure causes the sliding sleeve and actuating member to move so as to uncover the associated port. After fracking and cessation of supply of pressurized fracturing fluid, a compressed spring on the actuating member decompresses so as to reposition a sand screen immediately beneath the port so as to prevent sand from flowing into the production string. Flowable insertion of additional “keyed” actuating members allows similar opening of additional successive uphole ports and fracking in the regions of such additional opened ports, with similar location of sand screens at each opened port. Plug members on each actuating member thereafter dissolve or are successively burst to thereby allow production.

Abstract: A system for deploying an untethered dissolvable frac package for use in a hydraulic fracturing operation includes a dissolvable or degradable frac package with a dissolvable or degradable setting tool. The setting tool of the dissolvable frac package is configured to deploy a dissolvable frac plug at a predetermined position along the wellbore string and dissolve over time in the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining whether a base oil for use in drilling muds will be compatible with cement during subsequent cementing operations include: providing a drilling fluid that includes a base oil; using the drilling fluid to drill at least a portion of a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation; measuring a compositional characteristic of the base oil using one or more analytical tests; determining whether the base oil is a compatible base oil or an incompatible base oil based at least in part on the compositional characteristic of the base oil; injecting an amount of spacer fluid into the wellbore, wherein the amount of spacer fluid is selected based on the determination of whether the base oil is a compatible base oil or an incompatible base oil; and injecting the one or more cementing or completion fluids into the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, including placing into the wellbore a wellbore servicing fluid including a friction reducer, an iron control agent, and an aqueous fluid. The iron control agent can include a compound according to Structure I, a salt of Structure I, or combinations thereof: wherein R1, R1a, R2, R2a, R3 and R3a are defined as set forth in the specification. The methods in this disclosure can be used for iron mitigation.

Abstract: A method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a wellbore in a tight formation with greater breakdown pressures, the method including using hydro-jetting to effect a plurality of oriented cavities or discoidal grooves in the horizontal portion of the wellbore to overcome near-wellbore stresses, injecting a thermally controlled fluid into the wellbore to alter the temperature of the formation and lower stresses, and then fracturing the formation to generate a series of fractures that can be formed in a planar formation.

Abstract: An aqueous synthetic acid composition is provided for use in oil industry activities. The composition comprises: lysine and hydrogen chloride in a molar ratio ranging from 1:3 to 1:12.5, preferably from more than 1:5 to 1:8.5. The composition may further comprise a metal iodide or iodate and an alcohol or derivative thereof. The composition demonstrates advantageous properties for synthetic acids at temperatures above 90° C. The composition is useful in various oil and gas industry operations. Preferred embodiments of the composition provide substantial advantages in matrix acidizing by increasing the effectiveness of wormholing.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion includes a water-soluble copolymer prepared by controlled radical polymerization; a water soluble salt; a polyol; a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium phosphate, sodium nitrate, and combinations thereof; and water. Methods for using the polymer dispersion for oilfield friction reduction occur under a variety of adverse conditions including low temperatures, salt, scale, and iron.

Abstract: A proppant flow back restriction system includes a tubular extending through a wellbore and having a port disposed along the tubular. The system also includes a screen positioned along the tubular. The system further includes a cover disposed in an interior region of the tubular, where the cover is shiftable from a first position to a second position, and from the second position to a third position. The cover covers the port while the cover is in the first position, and uncovers the port while the cover is in the second position. The cover also engages the screen while shifting from the second position to the third position to shift the screen over the port.

Abstract: Polymers and fracturing fluid compositions including a base fluid, an effective amount of a hydratable polymer composition including one or more gel-forming hydratable polymers, a friction reducer composition including hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed hydrolyzable polymers and copolymers, a cross-linking composition in an amount sufficient to crosslink the one or more gel-forming hydratable polymers to form crosslinked structures within the fracturing fluid composition with or without a proppant and methods including combining an aqueous fluid and an oleaginous fluid to prepare an invert emulsion comprising a polymerizable composition, degassing the invert emulsion under an extensional flow regime through an elongated passageway of an extender and thereby removing oxygen to produce a degassed invert emulsion and compositions and methods including a hydratable additive concentrate comprising a hydratable additive that is at least substantially hydrated and a hydrating liquid, wherein the hydratable additive

Abstract: System and methods of optimizing proppant placement for stimulation treatments are provided. Properties of a reservoir formation and a treatment fluid to be injected into the formation are determined for a multistage stimulation treatment to be performed along a wellbore drilled within the formation. A proppant transport model uses the properties to determine a proppant profile for a fractured area of the formation for each treatment stage along the wellbore. A proppant pack conductivity for each stage is determined based on a proppant conductivity model and the proppant profile for that stage. A rate of hydrocarbon production expected from the wellbore is estimated based on a well production model and the proppant pack conductivity. A distribution of proppant to be injected into the formation during the treatment is determined, based on the production rate and one or more constraints. The stimulation treatment is performed based on the determined proppant distribution.

Abstract: Compositions and methods of fracturing including a hydrophobic rendered proppant or a proppant slurry and a fracturing fluid including an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying agent or mixture of viscosifying agents, and an enhancing proppant suspending composition including an aldehyde, a mixture of aldehydes, a ketone, a mixture of ketones, or mixtures thereof, and optionally a crosslinking agent or a mixture of crosslinking agents.

Abstract: Acid stimulation operations in a wellbore may be conducted using frac plugs constructed of a hydrolytically degradable polymer. The frac plugs may be constructed of an aliphatic polyester such as PGA and may be readily pumped into position in the wellbore due in part to their relatively low density. Once perforations have been created in the wellbore and a first frac plug is set in place, an acid solution may be pumped at a high-pressure acid against the frac plug and into the geologic formation. A second and/or any number of subsequent frac plugs may be pumped behind the acid, e.g., in brine solution, to be used in subsequent acid stimulation operations. After completing acid stimulation operations, the frac plugs may degrade in the wellbore to permit production.

Abstract: A particulate compacted copolymer polyvinyl alcohol-based composition that can be used as a plugging agent for minimizing or eliminating loss of circulation of fluids during the process of well drilling, workover, completion and cementing in the production of oil and gas.

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: Treatment fluids and associated methods and systems for demulsifying an emulsified well fluid. An example method includes contacting the emulsified well fluid with a treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous base fluid; an alcohol; a resin alkoxylated oligomer; a polyol; and a polyamine polyether. The emulsified well fluid is separated into an aqueous phase and an oleaginous phase after contact with the treatment fluid.