Abstract: A method of imparting hydrophobicity and/or oleophobicity to a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well during production of hydrocarbons from the well consists of pumping a surface modifying wettability agent into the well, the surface modifying wettability agent having an anchor, one or more hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups attached to the anchor and one or more alkoxy groups as blocking moieties which increase stability of the agent in the presence of water by slowing down hydrolysis at the formation surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a synergistic paraffin inhibitor includes a high-temperature intermediate and a low-temperature intermediate. The high-temperature intermediate has a high crystallization onset temperature, while the low-temperature intermediate has a low crystallization onset temperature that is within a range of about 6° C. and about 30° C. lower than the high crystallization onset temperature. In another aspect, the synergistic paraffin inhibitor is prepared by obtaining a high-temperature intermediate and a low-temperature intermediate. The high-temperature intermediate and the low-temperature intermediate are mixed to form the synergistic paraffin inhibitor, which may be introduced to a crude oil.

Abstract: A treatment formulation for removing target impurities from a system can include a synergistic combination of a polymer and a nanoparticle compound. In one aspect, a treatment formulation includes a contaminant removal agent and a solvent. The contaminant removal agent of one embodiment includes at least one nanoparticle compound, and suitable nanoparticle compounds are nitrides, oxide nanoparticles, clays, and carbon-based nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the contaminant removal agent includes at least one polymer. Suitable polymers are sulfonated PEEK polymer, sodium carboxy cellulose, poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, polyvinyl pyrrolidone functionalized with sodium salt of chloroacetic acid, polyvinyl pyrrolidone functionalized with propyl sulfonate, polyethyleneimine, 4-aminonapthalenesulfonic acid, 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate, and octadecylphosphonic acid.

Abstract: An encapsulated lost circulation material includes: a particulate having a core including a compressed shape-memory polymer foam, and a disintegrating agent, the disintegrating agent including at least one of a phase change material or a gas-producing material; and a shell encapsulating the core. A method of reducing lost circulation includes: introducing into a subsurface a wellbore fluid including the encapsulated lost circulation material; heating the disintegrating agent to cause the phase change material to expand, or to cause the gas-producing material to produce a gas, or a combination thereof to break the shell; and releasing the compressed shape-memory polymer foam from the encapsulated lost circulation material; expanding the released shape-memory polymer foam; and filling a void or fracture of the subsurface with the expanded compressed shape-memory polymer foam to reduce fluid loss.

Abstract: A method of reducing lost circulation includes introducing into a subsurface formation a wellbore fluid containing an encapsulated lost circulation material having a core including an elastomer and a disintegrating agent, and the disintegrating agent including at least one of the phase change material or a gas-producing material, and a shell encapsulating the core; heating the disintegrating agent to cause the phase change material to expand, or to cause the gas-producing material to produce a gas, or a combination thereof to break the shell; and releasing the elastomer from the encapsulated lost circulation material; expanding the elastomer; and filling a void or fracture of the subsurface formation with the expanded elastomer to reduce fluid loss.

Abstract: A method of imparting hydrophobicity and/or oleophobicity to a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well during production of hydrocarbons from the well consists of pumping a surface modifying wettability agent into the well, the surface modifying wettability agent having an anchor, one or more hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups attached to the anchor and one or more alkoxy groups as blocking moieties which increase stability of the agent in the presence of water by slowing down hydrolysis at the formation surface.

Abstract: A method of cementing a wellbore includes injecting into the wellbore a cement slurry containing: an accelerator composite having a shell encapsulating a core including an accelerator and a disintegrating agent, the disintegrating agent including at least one of a phase change material or a gas-producing material; a cementitious material; and an aqueous carrier; and releasing the accelerator from the accelerator composite.

Abstract: A disintegrable oilfield chemical composite includes a core containing an oilfield chemical and a disintegrating agent containing at least one of a phase change material or a gas-producing material; and a shell encapsulating the core. A method includes introducing into a subsurface formation a treatment fluid including the disintegrable oilfield chemical composite; heating the disintegrating agent to cause the phase change material to expand, or to cause the gas-producing material to produce a gas, or a combination thereof to break the shell; and releasing the oilfield chemical from the disintegrable oilfield composite.

Abstract: A method includes: introducing a breaker composite into a subsurface formation, the breaker composite having a shell encapsulating a core comprising a breaker; breaking or degrading the shell of the breaker composite to release the breaker; and reacting the released breaker with a component of a filter cake, a scale, or a combination thereof thereby removing the filter cake, the scale, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An encapsulated lost circulation material includes: a particulate having a core including a compressed shape-memory polymer foam, and a disintegrating agent, the disintegrating agent including at least one of a phase change material or a gas-producing material; and a shell encapsulating the core. A method of reducing lost circulation includes: introducing into a subsurface a wellbore fluid including the encapsulated lost circulation material; heating the disintegrating agent to cause the phase change material to expand, or to cause the gas-producing material to produce a gas, or a combination thereof to break the shell; and releasing the compressed shape-memory polymer foam from the encapsulated lost circulation material; expanding the released shape-memory polymer foam; and filling a void or fracture of the subsurface with the expanded compressed shape-memory polymer foam to reduce fluid loss.

Abstract: A method of cementing a wellbore includes injecting into the wellbore a cement slurry containing: an accelerator composite having a shell encapsulating a core including an accelerator and a disintegrating agent, the disintegrating agent including at least one of a phase change material or a gas-producing material; a cementitious material; and an aqueous carrier; and releasing the accelerator from the accelerator composite.

Abstract: A method of reducing lost circulation includes introducing into a subsurface formation a wellbore fluid containing an encapsulated lost circulation material having a core including an elastomer and a disintegrating agent, and the disintegrating agent including at least one of the phase change material or a gas-producing material, and a shell encapsulating the core; heating the disintegrating agent to cause the phase change material to expand, or to cause the gas-producing material to produce a gas, or a combination thereof to break the shell; and releasing the elastomer from the encapsulated lost circulation material; expanding the elastomer; and filling a void or fracture of the subsurface formation with the expanded elastomer to reduce fluid loss.

Abstract: Functionalized foaming agents can be used to produce and improve stabilized foamers for use in the recovery of petroleum products from subterranean formations. In some embodiments, the functionalized foaming agent includes at least one nanoparticle, at least one polymer, or a combination thereof, where the nanoparticle(s), the polymer(s), or the combination thereof includes a functional group from a donor molecule. Suitable donor molecules include organosilicon molecules, alkyl halides with a chain of eight or more carbon atoms, and combinations of the same. In other embodiments, the functionalized foaming agent includes at least one nanoparticle, at least one polymer, or a combination thereof and a carrier fluid. The functionalized foaming agent can be introduced into a well or reservoir as part of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by injecting slugs of the functionalized foaming agent and slugs of gas in an alternating pattern to produce a foam.

Abstract: A method of imparting hydrophobicity and/or oleophobicity to a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well during production of hydrocarbons from the well consists of pumping a surface modifying wettability agent into the well, the surface modifying wettability agent having an anchor, one or more hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups attached to the anchor and one or more alkoxy groups as blocking moieties which increase stability of the agent in the presence of water by slowing down hydrolysis at the formation surface.

Abstract: A tracer-embedded degradable article includes: a degradable metallic carrier; and a tracer disposed in the degradable metallic carrier, wherein the tracer includes an upconverting particle that has a host material, and a dopant. The article is manufactured by forming a mixture containing the metallic carrier and the tracer; and molding or casting the mixture. The degradation of the article is monitored by disposing the article downhole; degrading the article; releasing the tracer from the article to a wellbore fluid; and analyzing the wellbore fluid to determine an amount of the tracer in the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a liquid and functionalized nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. At least some of the functionalized nanoparticles comprise nanoparticles of aluminosilica and have a chemical structure of: wherein at least one of the X's represents —O— bonded to a silicon (Si) atom or an aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles; each other of the X's represents an additional —O— bonded to another silicon (Si) atom or another aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles, an alkoxy group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group (OH), a hydrogen atom, or a halide; Z represents an oxygen (O) atom or an NH group; and Q represents an epoxide group, an aziridine group, a —CH(OH)CH2OH group, a —CH(OH)CH2NH2 group, a —CH(NH)2CH2OH group, or a —CH(NH2)CH2NH2 group. Methods of formation and of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a liquid and functionalized nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. At least some of the functionalized nanoparticles comprise nanoparticles of aluminosilica and have a chemical structure of: wherein at least one of the X's represents —O— bonded to a silicon (Si) atom or an aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles; each other of the X's represents an additional —O— bonded to another silicon (Si) atom or another aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles, an alkoxy group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group (OH), a hydrogen atom, or a halide; Z represents an oxygen (O) atom or an NH group; and Q represents an epoxide group, an aziridine group, a —CH(OH)CH2OH group, a —CH(OH)CH2NH2 group, a —CH(NH)2CH2OH group, or a —CH(NH2)CH2NH2 group. Methods of formation and of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tracer-embedded degradable article includes: a degradable metallic carrier; and a tracer disposed in the degradable metallic carrier, wherein the tracer includes an upconverting particle that has a host material, and a dopant. The article is manufactured by forming a mixture containing the metallic carrier and the tracer; and molding or casting the mixture. The degradation of the article is monitored by disposing the article downhole; degrading the article; releasing the tracer from the article to a wellbore fluid; and analyzing the wellbore fluid to determine an amount of the tracer in the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: It has been discovered that nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers are effective in removing metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase. In particular, the nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers can remove iron contaminants from crude oil into an aqueous phase in a refinery desalter. Suitable nanoparticles can include graphene oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Suitable functionalized polymers include iodododecane-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, imidazole polymers, imidazole copolymers, and/or 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate.

Abstract: A method of reducing water saturation onto surfaces exposed to hydrocarbons during the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by altering the wettability of the surface of the formation with surface modified nanoparticles.