Abstract: Solid material required at a subterranean location is supplied from the surface suspended in a carrier liquid and agglomerated below ground by means of a binding liquid. To achieve agglomeration, the binding liquid and the particulate solid are similar to each other but opposite to the carrier liquid in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The solid and the binding liquid may both be hydrophobic while the carrier liquid is hydrophilic, or vice versa. The solid may be hydrophobically surface modified to render it hydrophobic. The binding liquid may be provided as a precursor which converts to the binding liquid below ground to trigger agglomeration after arrival at the subterranean location. The agglomerates may function as proppant heterogeneously placed in a fracture of a reservoir, or may serve to block an unwanted path of flow. The binding liquid may polymerise after agglomeration so as to stabilise and strengthen the agglomerates.

Abstract: This invention relates to oil and gas production, more specifically, to the methods of producing polymer emulsion for downhole operations and mixing degradable (hydrolysable) polymer emulsion with the treatment fluid.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to oil and gas production, more specifically, to methods of controlling the condition of suspensions and fluids, small particle delivery and formation rock quality through controlled changes in the physical properties of a hydrolysable polymer contained in a treatment fluid.

Abstract: A method is described to predict the composition of favorable bridging agents for a particular situation in which the solution thermodynamics of the chemicals used in the composition of the bridging material is carefully evaluated. Wellbore service fluids are also described that contain materials such as sodium bicarbonate, a material such as a salt containing water in a crystal structure, a material containing at least one boron-oxygen bond, or a non-polymer material having low solubility at low temperatures and high solubility at temperatures close to an expected long-term static bottom hole temperature. The material is provided in aqueous medium in sufficient concentration in the aqueous medium so as to act as a diverting agent during a hydraulic fracturing procedure using the fluid. The wellbore service fluid is pumped through the wellbore and the flow of the fluid is diverted using a plug that subsequently substantially dissolves due to changes in temperature and/or pressure.

Abstract: A method of stimulating production from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising pumping a fluid from the well into the formation so as to create a hydraulic fracture. The fluid contains one or more reactive species that destabilize cohesive forces in the formation matrix. The method allows the fluid to leak of into the formation and react with the formation matrix so as to produce a destabilized zone in the formation around the location of the fracture such the formation fluids and sand particles can be produced from the formation through the zone and into the well.

Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.

Abstract: This invention relates to geophysical research techniques, more particularly, to geophysical well logging methods, and may be used to seal near-wellbore formation during logging activities.

Abstract: A method is given for creating a fracture, in a subterranean formation, that has a fluid flow barrier at the top, at the bottom, or at both the top and the bottom. The method is applied before or during a conventional hydraulic fracturing treatment and is used to limit undesired vertical growth of a fracture out of the productive zone. A lower-viscosity pad fluid is used to initiate the fracture; a higher-viscosity fluid containing barrier particles is then injected; a lower-viscosity particle-free fluid is then injected to promote settling (or rising) of the barrier particles and to finger through the slug of barrier particles and cut it into an upper and lower portion. If the barrier is to be at the bottom of the fracture, the barrier particles are denser than the fluids; if the barrier is to be at the top of the fracture, the barrier particles are less dense than the fluids.

Abstract: A method is given for treating a wellbore in a subterranean formation by hydraulic fracturing, slickwater fracturing, gravel packing, and the like, by using plate-like materials as some or all of the proppant or gravel. The plate-like materials are particularly useful in complex fracture systems, for example in shales. They may be used as from about 20 to about 100% of the proppant. Relative to conventional proppants, plate-like proppants demonstrate (a) enhanced crush resistance of the proppant due to better stress distribution among proppant particles, (b) diminished proppant embedment into formation fracture faces due to the greater contact surface area of proppant particles with the formation, (c) better proppant transport due to lower proppant settling rates, (d) deeper penetration into branched and fine fracture networks, and (e) enhanced proppant flowback control. Preferred plate-like proppants are layered rocks and minerals; most preferred is mica.

Abstract: Recovery of hydrocarbon fluid from low permeability sources enhanced by introduction of a treating fluid is described. The treating fluid may include one or more constituent ingredients designed to cause displacement of hydrocarbon via imbibition. The constituent ingredients may be determined based on estimates of formation wettability. Further, contact angle may be used to determine wettability. Types and concentrations of constituent ingredients such as surfactants may be determined for achieving the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons. The selection can be based on imbibition testing on material that has been disaggregated from the source formation.

Abstract: Solid material required at a subterranean location is supplied from the surface suspended in a carrier liquid and agglomerated below ground by means of a binding liquid. Agglomeration is achieved by arranging that the binding liquid and the particulate solid are similar to each other but opposite to the carrier liquid in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The solid and the binding liquid may both be hydrophobic while the carrier liquid is hydrophilic, or vice versa. The solid may be hydrophobically surface modified to render it hydrophobic. The binding liquid may be provided as a precursor which converts to the binding liquid below ground to trigger agglomeration after arrival at the subterranean location. The agglomerates may function as proppant heterogeneously placed in a fracture of a reservoir, or may serve to block an unwanted path of flow. The binding liquid may polymerise after agglomeration so as to stabilise and strengthen the agglomerates.

Abstract: A method of fluid placement in a hydraulic fracture created in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that comprises the use of one or more reactants that form a low friction layer between the fluids that penetrate the fracture in consecutive treatment stages. Reactants can be added to the fluid that is the carrier or other fluid to be placed in a specific region of the fracture, namely as an upper or lower boundary of the fracture, or added to both the stage that requires placement in a specific section of the fracture and in the stage preceding it, especially the pad and carrier fluids used in consecutive stages.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for stimulating oil production from well by pumping reactive stimulation fluids from the well into the formation. The methods are particularly relevant to cold heavy oil production. This invention provides methods of stimulating production from a formation surrounding a well, comprising pumping a fluid from the well into the formation so as to create a hydraulic fracture, wherein the fluid contains one or more reactive species that destabilise cohesive forces in the formation matrix, and allowing the fluid to leak of into the formation and react with the formation matrix so as to produce a destabilised zone in the formation around the location of the fracture such that formation fluids and sand particles can be produced from the formation through the zone and into the well. The methods preferably comprise selecting the fluid so as to produce an at least partially unconsolidated formation matrix in the destabilised zone.

Abstract: A method for preparing a formation surrounding a wellbore to bear hydrocarbons through a borehole is disclosed. In one step, a bottomhole assembly is inserted into the borehole. The formation is drilled with the bottomhole assembly. The formation may be characterized with logging tools, probes, sensors, seismic system and/or the like to create first information. One or more fractures are placed in the formation without removal of the bottomhole assembly from the wellbore. Further, continuous drilling of the formation is performed with the bottomhole assembly after/during placing the fractures. Further characterizing of the formation with the probes, sensors/systems or the like is performed to produce second information. Another fracture is placed with feedback from the second information. Repeating the drilling, characterizing and placing of fractures as necessary during the formation preparing process.

Abstract: A composition and method are given for self-destructive fluid loss additives and filter cakes in wellbores and subterranean formations. The fluid loss additives and filter cakes are formed from a mixture of particulate solid acid-precursors, such as a polylactic acid or a polyglycolic acid, and particulate solid acid-reactive materials, such as magnesium oxide or calcium carbonate. In the presence of water, the solid acid-precursors hydrolyze and dissolve, generating acids that then dissolve the solid acid-reactive materials. The composition is used in oilfield treatments such as drilling, completion and stimulation where it disappears when it is no longer needed without the use of mechanical means or injection of additional fluids.

Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.

Abstract: A composition and method are given for self-destructive fluid loss additives and filter cakes in wellbores and subterranean formations. The fluid loss additives and filter cakes are formed from a mixture of particulate solid acid-precursors, such as a polylactic acid or a polyglycolic acid, and particulate solid acid-reactive materials, such as magnesium oxide or calcium carbonate. In the presence of water, the solid acid-precursors hydrolyze and dissolve, generating acids that then dissolve the solid acid-reactive materials. The composition is used in oilfield treatments such as drilling, completion and stimulation where it disappears when it is no longer needed without the use of mechanical means or injection of additional fluids.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.

Abstract: Proppants for treating subterranean which are scale resistant as well as fluids containing and methods of using such proppants. The proppant materials are less susceptible to fouling by residual materials in the fracturing or gravel pack fluid and hence may have improved clean-up compared with conventional materials. Long-term scale deposition during well production may also be improved. Proppant materials according to the invention are typically used in conjunction with carrier fluids or formation treatment fluids, such as fracturing treatments, for placement in the formation or wellbore penetrating the formation.