Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of using higher-quality water for one portion of the water for a treatment fluid and lower-quality water for another portion of the water for a treatment fluid, and merging the two portions to form the treatment fluid after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of treating a base aqueous solution to obtain a first aqueous solution, for example, to have a substantially reduced concentration of at least one component relative to the concentration of the component in the base aqueous solution, and using the first aqueous solution and a lower-quality water, such as the base aqueous solution, to form a treatment fluid. The first aqueous solution and the lower-quality water are merged after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. The component is selected for being deleterious to the use or performance of a treatment fluid. More particularly, the component is selected from the group consisting of: a dissolved ion, oil, grease, a production chemical, and suspended, water-insoluble solids. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive. This helps reduce wear on the pumps.

Abstract: A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may, for instance, be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The captured and detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection (TIR) methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention.

Abstract: Provided are methods that include a method comprising: placing a clean fluid comprising proppant particulates into a portion of a fracture in a subterranean formation, and depositing one or more of the proppant particulates into the fracture to form a partial monolayer. In another aspect, the invention provides methods that include placing a degradable fluid loss additive comprising collagen into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.

Abstract: There is disclosed a prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.

Abstract: Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents that comprise crosslinkable polymers and certain biopolymers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a crosslinking agent, and a gelling agent comprising a polymer that is a crosslinkable polymer, and a polymer that is a biopolymer wherein a molecule of the biopolymer (1) consists only of glucose, or (2) has a backbone comprising one or more units that comprise at least (a) one glucose unit and (b) one linear or cyclic pyranose-type monosaccharide unit, wherein (a) and (b) have different molecular structures; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A feeder for providing food to a plurality of animals comprises a generally horizontal base having a periphery. A central conical spreader is located above the base. An outer wall extends upwardly from said periphery of the base to an upper edge and defines a plurality of feeding apertures located to allow an animal to access feed located upon the base. A roof extends outwardly from the upper edge of the peripheral wall and over the feeding apertures. The roof defines a filling aperture located above the conical spreader. A door is adapted to selectively seal the filling aperture. Feed poured through the filling aperture is directed outwardly to the feeding apertures by the spreader to provide feeding animals with access through the feeding apertures to substantially all of the feed filled into the feeder.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing the conductivity of fractures in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a propped fracture in a subterranean formation wherein a plurality of proppant particulates reside in at least a portion of the fracture; providing a displacement fluid; introducing the displacement fluid into the propped fracture in the subterranean formation at a rate equal to or greater than the matrix rate of the subterranean formation but less than the rate sufficient to form or enhance a fracture in the subterranean formation; and forming at least one channel in the propped fracture.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include a method comprising providing a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a gelling agent that comprises a clarified xanthan; and placing the viscosified treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the method comprises placing the viscosified treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the viscosified treatment fluid may also comprise a plurality of particulates. In some embodiments, the viscosified treatment fluids may be placed into at least a portion of a pipeline. Additional methods are also provided.

Abstract: Many methods and compositions are provided. One of the methods provided comprises the steps of: providing an aqueous treatment fluid that comprises a polysaccharide and a dual functional component, the aqueous treatment fluid having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide such that the viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the aqueous treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide so as to reduce the second viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity. An example of a composition is a viscosified treatment fluid for treating subterranean formations comprising: an aqueous base fluid and an apparent cross linked reaction product of a polysaccharide and a dual functional component.

Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided, the methods comprising the steps of: (a) for a treatment fluid to be used in treating a subterranean formation, establishing a desired viscosity at a desired temperature for a desired time; (b) forming a treatment fluid that has the desired viscosity at the desired temperature for the desired time, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) a base fluid; (ii) a viscosifying agent comprising a polymer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. According to one aspect, an otherwise substantially identical treatment fluid with a lower concentration of the surfactant would not achieve the desired viscosity at the desired temperature for the desired time.

Abstract: Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents that comprise crosslinkable polymers and certain biopolymers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous base fluid; a crosslinking agent; and a gelling agent comprising a polymer that is a crosslinkable polymer, and a polymer that is a biopolymer wherein a molecule of the biopolymer (1) consists only of glucose, or (2) has a backbone comprising one or more units that comprise at least (a) one glucose unit and (b) one linear or cyclic pyranose-type monosaccharide unit, wherein (a) and (b) have different molecular structures.

Abstract: Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents that comprise crosslinkable polymers and certain biopolymers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a crosslinking agent, and a gelling agent comprising a polymer that is a crosslinkable polymer, and a polymer that is a biopolymer wherein a molecule of the biopolymer (1) consists only of glucose, or (2) has a backbone comprising one or more units that comprise at least (a) one glucose unit and (b) one linear or cyclic pyranose-type monosaccharide unit, wherein (a) and (b) have different molecular structures; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention consists of a radio transmitter located in an emergency vehicle and a receiver located in other vehicles. When the emergency vehicle warning light is on, a low wattage radio transmitter emits a signal which is picked up by a radio receiver in other vehicles in close proximity and causes an audible and/or visual alarm to be activated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.