Abstract: A method for modifying surface wettability of a surface of a solid substrate may include contacting the surface of the solid substrate with a brine solution containing carbon nanodots. The carbon nanodots may have carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen as constituent elements and may include one or more functional groups disposed at outer surfaces of the carbon nanodots. The brine solution has a salinity of greater than 30,000 TDS. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the brine solution is less than or equal to 500 ppmw. Contacting the solid substrate with the brine solution comprising the carbon nanodots is characterized by a contact duration, a contact volume, or both, that is sufficient to reduce the oil wettability of the surface of the solid substrate by at least 15%, as defined by a contact angle of a crude oil droplet contacted with the surface of the solid substrate.

Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation includes withdrawing hydrocarbons from a production well and injecting a treatment fluid that includes carbon nanodots dispersed in a brine solution from an injection well that is spaced apart from the production well. The carbon nanodots include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen and are surface functionalized. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the treatment fluid is less than or equal to 500 parts per million by weight. Injection of the treatment fluid having the carbon nanodots is characterized by an injection duration, an injection pressure, an injection volume, or a combination thereof, that is sufficient to increase cumulative oil recovery of hydrocarbons from the first subterranean formation, the second subterranean formation, or both by at least 10% compared to injecting the brine solution without the carbon nanodots.

Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation includes withdrawing hydrocarbons from a production well and injecting a treatment fluid that includes carbon nanodots dispersed in a brine solution from an injection well that is spaced apart from the production well. The carbon nanodots include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen and are surface functionalized. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the treatment fluid is less than or equal to 500 parts per million by weight. Injection of the treatment fluid having the carbon nanodots is characterized by an injection duration, an injection pressure, an injection volume, or a combination thereof, that is sufficient to increase cumulative oil recovery of hydrocarbons from the first subterranean formation, the second subterranean formation, or both by at least 10% compared to injecting the brine solution without the carbon nanodots.

Abstract: A method for modifying surface wettability of a surface of a solid substrate may include contacting the surface of the solid substrate with a brine solution containing carbon nanodots. The carbon nanodots may have carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen as constituent elements and may include one or more functional groups disposed at outer surfaces of the carbon nanodots. The brine solution has a salinity of greater than 30,000 TDS. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the brine solution is less than or equal to 500 ppmw. Contacting the solid substrate with the brine solution comprising the carbon nanodots is characterized by a contact duration, a contact volume, or both, that is sufficient to reduce the oil wettability of the surface of the solid substrate by at least 15%, as defined by a contact angle of a crude oil droplet contacted with the surface of the solid substrate.

Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.

Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an imaging system and method using adaptive optics and optimization algorithms for imaging through highly scattering media in oil reservoir applications and lab-based petroleum research. Two-/multi-photon fluorescence microscopy is used in conjunction with adaptive optics for enhanced imaging and detection capabilities in scattering reservoir media. Advanced fluorescence techniques are used to allow for super-penetration imaging to compensate for aberrations both in and out of the field of interest, extending the depth at which pore geometry can be imaged within a rock matrix beyond the current capability of confocal microscopy. The placement of a Deformable Mirror or Spatial Light Modulator for this application, in which scattering and index mismatch are dominant aberrations, is in an optical plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane of the objective lens in the imaging system.

Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.

Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.

Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an imaging system and method using adaptive optics and optimization algorithms for imaging through highly scattering media in oil reservoir applications and lab-based petroleum research. Two-/multi-photon fluorescence microscopy is used in conjunction with adaptive optics for enhanced imaging and detection capabilities in scattering reservoir media. Advanced fluorescence techniques are used to allow for super-penetration imaging to compensate for aberrations both in and out of the field of interest, extending the depth at which pore geometry can be imaged within a rock matrix beyond the current capability of confocal microscopy. The placement of a Deformable Mirror or Spatial Light Modulator for this application, in which scattering and index mismatch are dominant aberrations, is in an optical plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane of the objective lens in the imaging system.

Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.

Abstract: A controlled release composition comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminum nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts. Methods of delivering a controlled release of surfactants composition, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a solution into a reservoir, the solution comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminum nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts; and delivering water to the reservoir.

Abstract: A controlled release composition comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminium nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts. Methods of delivering a controlled release of surfactants composition, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a solution into a reservoir, the solution comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminium nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts; and delivering water to the reservoir.