Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation including introducing a preflush solution comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a surfactant onto the face of a fracture in a subterranean formation with particulates in the fracture; introducing a stabilizing composition onto the fracture face of the formation and onto the particulates proximate the fracture face, the composition including a second aqueous-based fluid; a silane-based resin; and a silane-based curing agent; allowing the stabilizing composition to consolidate the particulates proximate the fracture face, thereby stabilizing the fracture face and proximate particulates in the fracture. A method includes introducing a conformance treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, said treatment fluid including: an aqueous-based fluid; a silane-based resin; and a silane-based curing agent; and allowing the conformance treatment fluid to at least partially seal the pores of the formation.

Abstract: A self-triggering, in-situ crosslinking fluid system is provided for controlling lost circulation for drilling in a carbonate formation. Methods of drilling a well include the steps of: (A) forming a drilling fluid comprising an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises: (i) water; (ii) acid, wherein the acid is at least sufficiently strong and in at least a sufficient concentration such that the aqueous phase has an initial pH of less than about 2; (iii) a viscosity-increasing agent; and (iv) a crosslinker, wherein the crosslinker is selected or controlled to crosslink the viscosity-increasing agent at a pH range anywhere in a range of about 1.5 to about 6.5 and that is at least higher than the initial pH of the aqueous phase; and (B) drilling with the drilling fluid to form a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation including introducing a preflush solution comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a surfactant onto the face of a fracture in a subterranean formation with particulates in the fracture; introducing a stabilizing composition onto the fracture face of the formation and onto the particulates proximate the fracture face, the composition including a second aqueous-based fluid; a silane-based resin; and a silane-based curing agent; allowing the stabilizing composition to consolidate the particulates proximate the fracture face, thereby stabilizing the fracture face and proximate particulates in the fracture. A method includes introducing a conformance treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, said treatment fluid including: an aqueous-based fluid; a silane-based resin; and a silane-based curing agent; and allowing the conformance treatment fluid to at least partially seal the pores of the formation.

Abstract: A fracturing fluid comprising: water; a water-soluble salt; and a viscoelastic surfactant, wherein the viscoelastic surfactant: increases the viscosity of the fracturing fluid, wherein the viscosity is increased to at least a sufficient viscosity that proppant are suspended in the fracturing fluid; and is in at least a sufficient concentration such that the viscoelastic surfactant spontaneously forms micelles. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising: introducing the fracturing fluid into a well, wherein the well penetrates the subterranean formation; and creating one or more fractures within the subterranean formation with the fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating a treatment zone in a well to reduce the permeability of the treatment zone including the steps of: introducing into the treatment zone a water-based treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous silica sol; and a water-soluble chemical activator for gelling the silica sol, wherein the chemical activator is selected from the group consisting of: phytic acid, methylglycinediacetic acid, a water-soluble polyepoxysuccinic acid, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, tannic acid, and an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of any of the foregoing; and shutting in treatment zone for at least a sufficient time to allow the treatment fluid to in-situ form a solid gel at a design temperature for the method. Alternatively, a first treatment fluid including the aqueous silica sol and a second treatment fluid including the chemical activator can be introduced into the treatment zone separately, in any order.

Abstract: The present invention relates to environmentally friendly compositions and methods for removing or suppressing metal ions in waters, flowback waters, and produced waters to make such waters suitable for subsequent use in oil-field applications and for delinking metal cross-linked gelling agents. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a competitive binder and allowing the competitive binder to interact with interfering metal ions in a flowback fluid to suppress or remove interfering metal ions.

Abstract: A self-triggering, in-situ crosslinking fluid system is provided for controlling lost circulation for drilling in a carbonate formation. Methods of drilling a well include the steps of: (A) forming a drilling fluid comprising an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises: (i) water; (ii) acid, wherein the acid is at least sufficiently strong and in at least a sufficient concentration such that the aqueous phase has an initial pH of less than about 2; (iii) a viscosity-increasing agent; and (iv) a crosslinker, wherein the crosslinker is selected or controlled to crosslink the viscosity-increasing agent at a pH range anywhere in a range of about 1.5 to about 6.5 and that is at least higher than the initial pH of the aqueous phase; and (B) drilling with the drilling fluid to form a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of treating a zone of a subterranean carbonate formation penetrated by a wellbore is provided. The method includes the steps of: According to an embodiment, a method of treating a zone of a subterranean carbonate formation penetrated by a wellbore is provided, the method including the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid comprising: (i) water; (ii) a water-soluble polymer having at least one functional group that can be crosslinked with aluminum(III); and (iii) a water-soluble aluminum carboxylate; wherein the pH of the treatment fluid is less than 1; (b) introducing the treatment fluid through the wellbore into the zone; and (c) allowing time for the strong acid in the treatment fluid to spend in the formation such that the pH of the fluid increases sufficiently for the aluminum of the aluminum carboxylate to crosslink the polymer.

Abstract: An emulsion including: (a) an external oil phase, wherein the oil phase has a viscosity of less than 200 cP; (b) an internal water phase adjacent the external phase, wherein the internal water phase has a pH in the range of 5 to 9; (c) an emulsifier having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance in the range of 3 to 7 on the Davies scale; and (d) a Bronsted-Lowry base having a pKb(1) less than 12, wherein the base is encapsulated with an encapsulated breaker composition comprising: an encapsulant that comprises an ether cellulose. A method of treating a well includes the steps of: forming a treatment fluid including the emulsion; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well. In a preferred embodiment, the emulsion has a viscosity greater than 200 cP.

Abstract: The present invention relates to encapsulated breakers and the use of encapsulated breakers for breaking viscosified treatment fluids. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a viscosified treatment fluid having a first viscosity having a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, a proppant, an aqueous-base fluid, and an encapsulated breaker composition having an encapsulant that has a poly(meth)acrylate blend; introducing the viscosified treatment fluid in the subterranean formation; creating or enhancing a fracture in a subterranean formation; and allowing the encapsulated breaker composition to release the breaker so as to reduce the viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to a second viscosity.

Abstract: A method of treating a treatment zone in a well to reduce the permeability of the treatment zone including the steps of: introducing into the treatment zone a water-based treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous silica sol; and a water-soluble chemical activator for gelling the silica sol, wherein the chemical activator is selected from the group consisting of: phytic acid, methylglycinediacetic acid, a water-soluble polyepoxysuccinic acid, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, tannic acid, and an alkali metal salt or ammonium salt of any of the foregoing; and shutting in treatment zone for at least a sufficient time to allow the treatment fluid to in-situ form a solid gel at a design temperature for the method. Alternatively, a first treatment fluid including the aqueous silica sol and a second treatment fluid including the chemical activator can be introduced into the treatment zone separately, in any order.

Abstract: A method of treating a zone of a subterranean carbonate formation penetrated by a wellbore is provided. The method includes the steps of: According to an embodiment, a method of treating a zone of a subterranean carbonate formation penetrated by a wellbore is provided, the method including the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid comprising: (i) water; (ii) a water-soluble polymer having at least one functional group that can be crosslinked with aluminum(III); and (iii) a water-soluble aluminum carboxylate; wherein the pH of the treatment fluid is less than 1; (b) introducing the treatment fluid through the wellbore into the zone; and (c) allowing time for the strong acid in the treatment fluid to spend in the formation such that the pH of the fluid increases sufficiently for the aluminum of the aluminum carboxylate to crosslink the polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to environmentally friendly compositions and methods for removing or suppressing metal ions in waters, flowback waters, and produced waters to make such waters suitable for subsequent use in oil-field applications and for delinking metal cross-linked gelling agents. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a competitive binder and allowing the competitive binder to interact with interfering metal ions in a flowback fluid to suppress or remove interfering metal ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to encapsulated breakers and the use of encapsulated breakers for breaking viscosified treatment fluids. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a viscosified treatment fluid having a first viscosity having a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, a proppant, an aqueous-base fluid, and an encapsulated breaker composition having an encapsulant that has a poly(meth)acrylate blend; introducing the viscosified treatment fluid in the subterranean formation; creating or enhancing a fracture in a subterranean formation; and allowing the encapsulated breaker composition to release the breaker so as to reduce the viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to a second viscosity.