Abstract: Lost circulation materials may include a plurality of self-aggregating particles having a degradable coating, wherein the self-aggregating particles are capable of bonding via mechanical interactions, electrical interactions, magnetic interactions, chemical interactions, or any combination thereof into a plurality of aggregated particles. The aggregated particles have a larger effective size and can seal large openings/apertures in the subsurface that cause lost circulation during a wellbore drilling operation.

Abstract: Lost circulation materials may be particles having a core-shell structure. Said particles may include: a core comprising an expandable material; and a shell around the core, the shell comprising an outer permeable membrane, an inner permeable membrane, and a hardenable material between the outer and inner permeable membranes; and wherein the core-shell structure is folded. The particles may be initially folded where, upon exposure to a stimulus, the core expands in volume (which unfolds the particles) and the shell increases in strength. The expanded particles can then clog large openings/apertures in the formation.

Abstract: An apparatus for simulating fluid loss through diverging fracture fronts includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines an inner volume. The housing can receive and sealingly retain fluid in the inner volume. The housing includes a plate defining an opening formed in an axial surface of the plate. The opening spans a longitudinal thickness of the plate and diverges in dimension along the longitudinal thickness of the plate. The plate is sealingly positioned within the inner volume of the housing between the inlet and the outlet to permit fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet through the opening and to prevent the fluid flow past a circumferential surface of the plate. The apparatus includes a fluidic pressure source fluidically coupled to the housing and configured to flow the fluid through the housing.

Abstract: Loss circulation material (LCM) and method for treating loss circulation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, including placing the LCM having a solid body with permeable portions or pores into the wellbore to dispose the LCM at the loss circulation zone, and collecting solids onto the LCM at the loss circulation zone to form a barrier. The LCM may be applied at a loss circulation zone in a hydrocarbon reservoir section of the subterranean formation, and upon subsequent hydrocarbon production the collected solids may be dislodged by the produced hydrocarbon to allow for hydrocarbon production through the permeable portions or pores of the disposed LCM.

Abstract: A method and drilling fluid additive for reducing severe fluid losses in a well, comprising a combination of granular scrap tire particles and polymer adhesive molded into a cone shape. Once in the severe loss zone, a plurality of LCMs wedge into the formation fractures and seal off the severe loss zone.

Abstract: Systems, processes, and computer-readable media for determining lithology porosity of a formation rock from surface drilling parameters using a lithology porosity machine learning model without the use of wireline logging. Lithology porosity at different depths in existing may be determined from the wireline logs. The lithology porosity may be shaly sand, tight sand, porous gas, or porous wet. The lithology porosity machine-learning model may be trained and calibrated using the data from a structured data set having surface drilling parameters from the existing wells and lithology porosity classifications from the wells. The lithology porosity machine learning model may then be used to determine a lithology porosity classification for a new well without the use of wireline logging.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: Loss circulation material (LCM) and method for treating loss circulation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, including placing the LCM having a solid body with permeable portions or pores into the wellbore to dispose the LCM at the loss circulation zone, and collecting solids onto the LCM at the loss circulation zone to form a barrier. The LCM may be applied at a loss circulation zone in a hydrocarbon reservoir section of the subterranean formation, and upon subsequent hydrocarbon production the collected solids may be dislodged by the produced hydrocarbon to allow for hydrocarbon production through the permeable portions or pores of the disposed LCM.

Abstract: Loss circulation material (LCM) and method for treating loss circulation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, including placing the LCM having a solid body with permeable portions or pores into the wellbore to dispose the LCM at the loss circulation zone, and collecting solids onto the LCM at the loss circulation zone to form a barrier. The LCM may be applied at a loss circulation zone in a hydrocarbon reservoir section of the subterranean formation, and upon subsequent hydrocarbon production the collected solids may be dislodged by the produced hydrocarbon to allow for hydrocarbon production through the permeable portions or pores of the disposed LCM.

Abstract: A flow barrier for wastewater disposal ponds or pits used in oil and gas operations. The flow barrier includes a flake component, a fiber component, and a granular component. The disposal pond flow barrier may prevent the infiltration or leakage of aqueous fluids from the wastewater disposal ponds into the surrounding environment and ecosystems. A process for manufacturing and using the flow barrier in a wastewater disposal pond is also provided.

Abstract: Lost circulation materials may include pluralities of ceramic spheres having a size distribution in a range of from about 5 mm to about 25 mm and such that the lost circulation materials are porous and permeable. Methods of eliminating or reducing lost circulation from a well having a loss zone may include introducing the porous and permeable lost circulation materials into the well such that a porous and permeable flow barrier is created in the loss zone, wherein the porous and permeable flow barrier may prevent whole mud loss while drilling and allows hydrocarbon production after completion of the well. Carrier fluids may include water, viscosifiers, fluid loss additives, weighting agents, lost circulation materials containing pluralities of ceramic spheres having a size distribution in a range of from about 5 mm to about 25 mm.

Abstract: A lost circulation material (LCM) that includes spheres having radially distributed hooks and latches to facilitate engagement (such as interlocking) of the spheres is provided. Each sphere has a plurality of hooks and a plurality of latches to engage latches and hooks respectively of adjacent spheres. Each hook may include two hook arms, and each latch may define an aperture to receive a hook arm. The spheres may form plugs in channels, fractures, and other openings in a lost circulation zone. Additionally or alternatively, the spheres may form a bridge on which other LCMs may accumulate to seal openings in a lost circulation zone. Methods of preventing lost circulation using the spheres are also provided.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.

Abstract: A human hair lost circulation material (LCM) is provided. The human hair LCM includes human hairs obtained from sources of human hair waste such as barber shops, saloons, beauty parlors, and religious sites. The human hair LCM may include human hair having a diameter in the range of about 50 microns to about 150 microns and human hair having a length in the range of 2 millimeters (mm) to about 4 centimeters (cm). Methods of lost circulation control using and formation of a human hair LCM are also provided.

Abstract: A lost circulation material (LCM) that includes spheres having radially distributed and substantially-straight protrusions to facilitate engagement (such as interlocking and entanglement) of the spheres, and methods of preventing lost circulation using the spheres. Each sphere has a plurality of protrusions to contact protrusions of adjacent spheres. The spheres may form plugs in channels, fractures, and other openings in a lost circulation zone. Additionally or alternatively, the spheres may form a bridge on which other LCMs may accumulate to seal openings in a lost circulation zone.

Abstract: Loss circulation material (LCM) and method for treating loss circulation in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, including placing the LCM having a solid body with permeable portions or pores into the wellbore to dispose the LCM at the loss circulation zone, and collecting solids onto the LCM at the loss circulation zone to form a barrier. The LCM may be applied at a loss circulation zone in a hydrocarbon reservoir section of the subterranean formation, and upon subsequent hydrocarbon production the collected solids may be dislodged by the produced hydrocarbon to allow for hydrocarbon production through the permeable portions or pores of the disposed LCM.

Abstract: A flow barrier for wastewater disposal ponds or pits used in oil and gas operations. The flow barrier includes a flake component, a fiber component, and a granular component. The disposal pond flow barrier may prevent the infiltration or leakage of aqueous fluids from the wastewater disposal ponds into the surrounding environment and ecosystems. A process for manufacturing and using the flow barrier in a wastewater disposal pond is also provided.

Abstract: A drill pipe assembly has an inner tubular member with a Trojan central bore. An outer tubular member circumscribes the inner tubular member. An annular storage space is defined between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member. An uphole connection member connects to an uphole drill string so that the Trojan central bore is in communication with the uphole drill string. A downhole connection member connects to a downhole drill string so that the Trojan central bore is in communication with the downhole drill string. A window assembly is moveable between a closed position and an open position. In the open position the window assembly provides a flow path between the annular storage space and an outside of the outer tubular member. In the closed position the window assembly prevents a flow between the annular storage space and the outside of the outer tubular member.

Abstract: Systems, processes, and computer-readable media for determining lithology porosity of a formation rock from surface drilling parameters without the use of wireline logging. Lithology porosity at different depths in existing may be determined from the wireline logs. The lithology porosity may be shaly sand, tight sand, porous gas, or porous wet. A lithology porosity machine-learning model may be trained and calibrating using the data from a structured data set having surface drilling parameters from the existing wells and lithology porosity classifications from the wells. The lithology porosity machine learning model may then be used to determine a lithology porosity classification for a new well without the use of wireline logging.

Abstract: A method and drilling fluid additive for reducing severe fluid losses in a well, comprising a combination of granular scrap tire particles and polymer adhesive molded into a cone shape. Once in the severe loss zone, a plurality of LCMs wedge into the formation fractures and seal off the severe loss zone.