Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation including providing a treatment fluid comprising an oil-based fluid component and an oil-soluble weighting agent that comprises a metal, wherein the oil-soluble weighting agent has a density in the range of from about 1.1 g/cm3 to about 22 g/cm3; solubilizing the oil-soluble weighting agent in the oil-based fluid component of the treatment fluid, wherein the oil-soluble weighting agent increases the density of the oil-based fluid component of the treatment fluid; introducing the oil-based treatment fluid into a wellbore in a subterranean formation.

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: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising preparing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising (i) a breaking agent, a breaking agent precursor, or combinations thereof, wherein the breaking agent comprises a sugar acid and (ii) an aqueous base fluid, and contacting the wellbore servicing fluid with a filter cake in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation.

Abstract: Method for removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids such as oil and gas well drilling, treatment, and production fluids and effluents from hydrocarbon operations and mineral mining operations. The sulfide scavenger used in the method is a gluconate salt other than ferrous gluconate. The gluconate salt is added to the fluid along with an iron source if iron is not already in the fluid. The gluconate reacts with the iron and forms iron gluconate in the fluid, which in turn reacts with the hydrogen sulfate to form iron sulfide which may be readily removed from the fluid.

Abstract: Dual phase compositions for treating a hydrocarbon stream are disclosed, wherein the dual phase compositions are colloidal micellar solutions with an aqueous phase and an oil phase. Methods are also disclosed for reducing emulsions in a hydrocarbon stream by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a dual phase composition.

Abstract: A method for remediating bacterially-induced corrosion, environmental damage, and/or process inefficiencies in an industrial process includes identifying an industrial process where target bacteria adversely affect corrosion, environmental impact, and/or process efficiencies. The process also includes identifying the strains of the target bacteria, obtaining a bacteriophage virulent against one or more of the strains of the target bacteria, and exposing the target bacteria to the bacteriophage. The method can utilize an aqueous composition comprising bacteriophage encapsulated in at least one selected from the group consisting of: liposomes, foam, and gel.

Abstract: A process for reducing contaminants during a desalting process is disclosed. The process may comprise providing an acid buffer solution; providing a contaminated stream; and mixing the acid buffer solution with the contaminated stream.

Abstract: A static desalter simulator apparatus has a housing for containing a liquid bath and a rack disposed within the housing. The rack is formed of at least two substantially parallel plates separable by a plurality of spacers. An electric field is generatable between the plates, and at least one of the plates includes at least one recess. The apparatus also includes at least one mixing tube for containing an oil-water emulsion, which is positionable within at least one of the recesses. A controller is operatively connected to a mixing tube. An imaging device for generating a digital image or video during a demulsification process is in a mixing tube.

Abstract: A small-scale static simulator for crude oil refinery desalters has an oil bath, a portion of which is made of a transparent material, a heater/circulator configured to control the temperature of the oil bath and an emulsion-forming device. The desalter simulator also includes a plurality of mixing tubes, each mixing tube having a cap member with a blending assembly configured to work with the emulsion-forming device to emulsify an oil/water mixture contained in the mixing tube. A tube-holding rack is received in the oil bath. The tube-holding rack has a plurality of parallel plates, said plates having openings forming mixing tube receiving apertures.

Abstract: A multi-component demulsifier comprising an alkoxylated C5-C7 alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin and at least one polyalkylene oxide triblock copolymer. This synergistic combination of materials is useful in breaking emulsions, of water in hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon in water.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation of fouling materials including contacting hydrocarbon media containing aldehyde compounds with an antifoulant while treating the hydrocarbon media with a basic wash. The antifoulant includes a reducing sugar.

Abstract: A process for testing the effectiveness of demulsifying additives on oil/water emulsions includes adding samples containing differing combinations of oil, water and demulsifier to a plurality of elongate reactor vials, wherein each the elongate reactor vial has a longitudinal axis extending from its bottom to its rim. The plurality of reactor vials are placed into a reaction block mounted on a platform of a shaker, wherein the reactor vials are received in stations of the reaction block in a vertical orientation such that the longitudinal axis of each reactor vial is perpendicular to the platform. The reaction block is pivoted the so that the longitudinal axis of each reactor vial is parallel with the platform in a horizontal orientation.

Abstract: A multi-component demulsifier comprising an alkoxylated C5-C7 alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde resin and at least one polyalkylene oxide triblock copolymer. This synergistic combination of materials is useful in breaking emulsions, of water in hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon in water.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation of fouling materials including contacting hydrocarbon media containing aldehyde compounds with an antifoulant while treating the hydrocarbon media with a basic wash. The antifoulant includes a reducing sugar.