Abstract: Hydraulic fracture dimensions and, optionally, fracture closure pressure and time are determined by adding particulate matter that discharges to create an acoustic signal to the proppant, allowing the particulate matter to discharge, and detecting the acoustic signal with geophones or accelerometers. The particulate matter may be spheres or fibers. The discharge may be explosion, implosion, detonation, or rapid combustion or ignition. The discharge may be triggered by fracture closure or by chemical reaction.

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: Well treatment is disclosed that includes injecting a well treatment fluid with insoluble polyol polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) dispersed therein, depositing the insoluble polymer in the wellbore or an adjacent formation, and thereafter dissolving the polymer by reducing salinity and/or increasing temperature conditions in the environment of the polymer deposit. The method is disclosed for filter cake formation, fluid loss control, drilling, hydraulic fracturing and fiber assisted transport, where removal of the polyol at the end of treatment or after treatment is desired. The method is also disclosed for providing dissolved polyol as a delayed breaker in crosslinked polymer viscosified systems and viscoelastic surfactant systems. Also disclosed are well treatment fluids containing insoluble amorphous or at least partially crystalline polyol, and a PVOH fiber composition wherein the fibers are stabilized from dissolution by salinity.

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: Emulsions, either water-in-oil or oil-in-water, may be formed by combining an aqueous component, a non-aqueous component and a surfactant in combination with fibers. The fibers decrease the time and energy required to form the emulsion and, in some cases, allow emulsion formation that would not be possible with the use of such fibers.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method for fracturing subterranean formations including the steps of (a) providing a water source; (b) adding a crosslinking agent to said water source; (c) adding a polymeric component to said water to create a fracturing fluid; (d) pumping said fracturing fluid into said formation. The fluid may contain an acrylamide-acrylate copolymer and any suitable number of additives. The additives are preferably combined with the water source to form an additive stream, to which the polymer is later added.

Abstract: Hydraulic fracture dimensions and, optionally, fracture closure pressure and time are determined by adding particulate matter that discharges to create an acoustic signal to the proppant, allowing the particulate matter to discharge, and detecting the acoustic signal with geophones or accelerometers. The particulate matter may be spheres or fibers. The discharge may be explosion, implosion, detonation, or rapid combustion or ignition. The discharge may be triggered by fracture closure or by chemical reaction.

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: The present invention related to a method for fracturing subterranean formations including the steps of (a) providing a water source; (b) adding a crosslinking agent to said water source; (c) adding a polymeric component to said water to create a fracturing fluid; (d) pumping said fracturing fluid into said formation. The fluid may contain an acrylamide-acrylate copolymer and any suitable number of additives. The additives are preferably combined with the water source to form an additive stream, to which the polymer is later added.