Abstract: A system and method for rheology measurements. The system may comprise a conduit; an ultrasound transmitter positioned to direct ultrasound pulses into the conduit; an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves from the conduit; a pump fluidically coupled to the conduit; and a heat exchanger fluidically coupled to the conduit. The method may comprise drawing a sample of a treatment fluid into the rheology measurement system; pressuring the sample of the treatment fluid; adjusting temperature of the treatment fluid; directing ultrasound pulses into the treatment fluid while the treatment fluid is flowing through the rheology measurement system; measuring sound waves reflected by the treatment fluid; and determining a velocity profile of the treatment fluid based at least on the measured sound waves.

Abstract: A chelating agent can be used to enhance secondary hydrocarbon-fluid recovery during waterflooding operations. A composition can include a fluid and a chelating agent. The chelating agent can increase the viscosity of the fluid, which can enhance the efficacy of the waterflooding operations. The chelating agent can also form complexes with divalent cations in precipitates and solids formed by the divalent cations. The complexes can keep the cations in a soluble form until the composition exits the production well, which can prevent precipitates from forming in the production well and blocking pore throats in the production well.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring rheology of a treatment fluid. The system may comprise an ultrasound transmitter positioned to direct ultrasound pulses into the treatment fluid as the treatment fluid is being introduced into a wellbore; an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves reflected from the treatment fluid; and a computer system configured to determine a velocity profile of the treatment fluid based at least in part on the reflected sound waves. The method may comprise introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore by way of a conduit; directing ultrasound pulses into the treatment fluid; measuring sound waves reflected by the treatment fluid; and determining a velocity profile of the treatment fluid based at least on the measured sound waves.

Abstract: A system and method for rheology measurement of a drilling fluid. The system may comprise an ultrasound transmitter positioned to direct ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid; an ultrasound receiver positioned to receive sound waves reflected from the drilling fluid; and a computer system configured to determine a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the reflected sound waves. The method may comprise flowing at least a portion of the drilling fluid through a rheology measurement system; directing ultrasound pulses into the drilling fluid while the drilling fluid is flowing through the rheology measurement system; measuring sound waves reflected by the drilling fluid; and determining a velocity profile of the drilling fluid based at least on the measured sound waves.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of a drilling fluid includes selecting a sample of the drilling fluid that has been recirculated, measuring the NMR response of the sample of the drilling fluid and determining the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the NMR response.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a weighted composition for treatment of a subterranean formation. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method can include placing in a subterranean formation a weighted composition. The weighted composition can include a weighting agent and an inorganic coating material on the weighting agent. The inorganic coating material can be a crystalline inorganic coating material. The inorganic coating material can be an amorphous inorganic coating material.

Abstract: Turbidity measurement systems and methods of using the same are described. A turbidity measurement system comprise a vessel configured to hold a wellbore fluid, wherein a permeable obstruction to flow is positioned in the vessel; a light source positioned to direct light at the vessel; a light detector positioned to measure light intensity of light emitted by the light source and passing through the vessel; and a backscatter detector positioned to measure the light intensity of reflected light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: Turbidity measurement systems and methods of using the same are described. A turbidity measurement system comprises a vessel configured to hold a wellbore fluid, wherein a porous media is positioned in the vessel; a light source positioned to direct light at the vessel; a light detector positioned to measure light intensity of light emitted by the light source and passing through the vessel; a backscatter detector configured to measure the light intensity of reflected light emitted from the light source; and a computer system communicatively coupled to at least one of the light source, light detector, or light detector.

Abstract: Precipitated particles may be formed under conditions that provide a particle morphology suitable for conveying a desired set of properties to a wellbore circulation fluid. Methods for using precipitated particles in a wellbore may comprise: selecting precipitation conditions for producing precipitated particles that are substantially non-spherical in shape, are about 1 micron or under in size, or any combination thereof; forming the precipitated particles from a reaction mixture under the precipitation conditions without using a polymeric dispersant; and introducing a wellbore circulation fluid comprising a plurality of the precipitated particles into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The precipitation conditions may include one or more of modulating various reaction conditions, applying an electric field to the reaction mixture, or including a carbohydrate-based material in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the use of treatment fluids comprising metalate-based additives to treat subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising a non-aqueous base fluid and at least one metalate-based additive comprising: an anion selected from the group consisting of: a tungstate, a molybdate, a vanadate, a manganate, and any combination thereof, and an organic cation; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to guanidine- or guanidinium-containing clay or shale stabilizers for treatment of subterranean formations, in various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation that can include placing a composition including a clay or shale stabilizer including at least one of a substituted guanidine group and a substituted guanidinium group in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A process control system can include a vessel, and at least one heat transfer property sensor that measures a heat transfer property of a substance at the vessel. The process control system can also include a monitoring device that receives an output of the heat transfer property sensor, and a process control device that is adjusted in response to the heat transfer property sensor output. A method of controlling a process can include measuring a thermal conductivity of a substance at a vessel, and adjusting the process in response to the measuring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating a subterranean formation with a composition including a compound made by a microorganism or a microorganism that can make the compound. Various embodiments provide methods of using compositions for treatment of subterranean formations including exopolysaccharides or microorganisms that can make exopolysaccharides under downhole conditions. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation, including providing at least one exopolysaccharide by subjecting an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism forms the exopolysaccharide, or by subjecting a microorganism genetically modified using an extremophilic or extremotolerant microorganism to conditions such that the microorganism forms the exopolysaccharide. The method can also include contacting a composition including the exopolysaccharide with a subterranean material downhole.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring drilling fluids. One system includes a flow path containing a fluid having at least one component present therein, and a movable housing having at least one optical computing device configured to move with the movable housing along a detection path, the at least one optical computing device including at least one integrated computational element (ICE) configured to optically interact with the fluid over the detection path, wherein the at least one ICE is configured to detect a characteristic of the at least one component and generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to clay stabilizers. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation, including obtaining or providing a composition including a clay stabilizer having the structure Y—R1—(O—R2)x—Y. The variable R1 can be a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbylene. At each occurrence, R2 can independently be a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbylene. At each occurrence, Y can be independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group, a nitro group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine oxide group, and a substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C20)hydrocarbyloxy group, wherein at least one terminal group Y is a substituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine oxide group, or a nitro group. The variable x can be an integer between 1 and 200,000.

Abstract: Phospho-friction reducing agents may include phosphonates, thiophosphonates, and derivatives thereof. The phospho-friction reducing agents may be included in drilling fluids with oleaginous base fluids and used in methods that involve drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. Further, the phospho-friction reducing agents may be useful at relatively low concentrations in the drilling fluids (e.g., about 0.001 v/v % to about 0.5 v/v % of the drilling fluid).

Abstract: Methods and compositions for scavenging water in drilling operations involving oil-based or invert emulsion-based drilling muds are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing an oil-based or invert emulsion drilling fluid comprising an organic water scavenging additive; using the drilling fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the organic water scavenging additive to interact with water in at least a portion of the well bore to consume at least a portion of the water.

Abstract: A method of producing particles comprising: (A) providing a plurality of particle cores, wherein the cores have at least a first property; (B) partially or fully coating the outer surface of the cores with a substance, wherein the substance has a second property, and wherein the second property is different from the first property; and (C) reducing the particle size of the coated particles, wherein the core is exposed after the step of reducing. A method of using particles comprising: introducing a treatment fluid into an area to be treated, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) a base fluid; and (ii) the particles.

Abstract: A drilling fluid conditioning system can include at least one drilling fluid conditioning device, and at least one heat transfer property sensor that outputs real time measurements of a heat transfer property of a drilling fluid that flows through the drilling fluid conditioning device. A method can include measuring a heat transfer property of a drilling fluid, and determining, based on the measured heat transfer property, an oil to water ratio of the drilling fluid. A well system can include a drilling fluid that circulates through a wellbore and a drilling fluid conditioning system, and the drilling fluid conditioning system including at least one drilling fluid conditioning device, and at least one thermal conductivity sensor that measures a thermal conductivity of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: Thermal conductivity measurements of a wellbore fluid may be used to derive the sag of the wellbore fluid (i.e., the inhomogeneity or gradation in particle distribution in the fluid as a result of the particles settling). For example, a method may include measuring a thermal conductivity of a fluid at two or more locations along a height of a vessel containing the fluid that comprises particles dispersed in a base fluid; and calculating a sag of the fluid based on the thermal conductivity at the two or more locations. In some instances, the temperature and pressure of the wellbore fluid may be changed and/or the wellbore fluid may be sheared to investigate their effects on sag.