Abstract: A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof that includes injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one iminodiacetic acid or salt thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for recovering gas from a subterranean formation having a hydrate deposit located therein and a gas reservoir located under the hydrate deposit that includes injecting a hydrate-forming fluid into an upper region of the gas reservoir neighboring the hydrate deposit; and producing gaseous hydrocarbons from a lower region of the gas reservoir is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming a formate brine may include increasing the pH of a spent formate brine fluid comprising water-soluble polymers; treating the fluid with an oxidizing agent; and removing at least a portion of suspended solids from the fluid. Further, a method of reclaiming a formate brine may include lowering the pH of the spent formate brine fluid comprising water-soluble polymers; increasing the pH of the spent formate brine fluid to initiate precipitation of materials solubilized in the fluid; treating the fluid with an oxidizing agent to break down remaining water-soluble polymer; and recovering at least a portion of the formate brine.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for a solar cell based sun sensor are disclosed. The system involves at least three solar panel elements and at least one processor. Each of the solar panel elements measures solar power, and generates currents according to the amount of solar power that the solar power element measures. At least one processor utilizes the currents to determine the three-dimensional sun vector. The solar cell based sun sensor system automatically adjusts for effects of any solar panel element degradation by computing a new maximum current reference value for each solar power measurement. The solar cell based sun sensor system is employed by a spacecraft and/or a terrestrial system. The solar cell based sun sensor system is utilized for guidance, for navigation, for tracking the sun's motion relative to a given reference, to keep instruments pointed to the sun, and/or to keep instruments isolated from the sun.

Abstract: A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof that includes injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one iminodiacetic acid or salt thereof is disclosed.

Abstract: A breaker fluid may include a base fluid; and an inactive chelating agent. A process may include pumping a first wellbore fluid comprising an inactive chelating agent into a wellbore through a subterranean formation; and activating the inactive chelating agent to release an active chelating agent into the wellbore.

Abstract: A composition and method for use in drilling or completing a subterranean well comprising a solidsfree, high-density brine composed of alkali metal polytungstate and blends thereof. These high-density brines are also useful as wellbore fluids and other non-oilfield fluids requiring high density properties.

Abstract: A fluid loss pill that includes a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described. Further, a method for reducing fluid loss that includes pumping a selected amount of a fluid loss pill into a wellbore leading to an oil-, condensate-, or gas-producing formation, the fluid loss pill including a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described.

Abstract: A method for treating a wellbore in a hydrogen sulfide-containing formation that includes injecting a first slug in the wellbore, the first slug comprising: at least one of primary amine and ammonia; and a base fluid; injecting a second slug in the wellbore, the second slug comprising: a triazine scavenger; and a base fluid; and allowing the triazine scavenger to react with the hydrogen sulfide is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an indicator precursor composition for determining the hardness of a wellbore fluid filtrate, where the composition includes a colorimetric indicator and a buffer, where the buffer may include a salt of a weak acid and a strong base, and where the indicator precursor may be a dry solid. Also disclosed is a method for determining the hardness of a wellbore fluid filtrate.

Abstract: A method of recovering formate from halide-contaminated formate brine that includes mixing a formate recovery solvent and the halide-contaminated formate brine; separating halide contaminants from the formate; and recovering the formate from the formate recovery solvent is disclosed.

Abstract: Polymers and hydrogels that are provided that are thermo-responsive, such as thermo-thickening polymers and hydrogels, as well as aqueous solutions whose rheological properties may be modified by including the polymers, hydrogels, or combinations thereof. Such thermo-responsive polymers or hydrogels, or aqueous solutions including the polymers or hydrogels, may be used as additives to reservoir drilling fluids (RDF's), fluid loss control (FLC) pills, hydraulic fracturing fluids (frac fluids), and lost circulation (LC) pills. The polymers or hydrogels may impart a rheological profile that is generally flat with respect to variations in the shear-rate and temperature environment in which drilling fluids, RDF's, FLC pills, frac fluids, and LC pills are deployed. Embodiments include the process of producing a high performance filtercake through the application of thermo-responsive hydrogels and/or thermo-responsive polymer solutions.

Abstract: A packer or annular fluid includes a hydrocarbon fluid; and a gelling agent; wherein the packer fluid is a yield power law fluid. A method for preparing a packer fluid includes preparing a mixture of a hydrocarbon fluid, and a gelling agent; heating the mixture to a selected temperature; and shearing the mixture. A method for emplacing a packer fluid into an annulus includes preparing the packer fluid that includes a hydrocarbon fluid and a gelling agent, wherein the packer fluid is a yield power law fluid; and pumping the packer fluid into the annulus.

Abstract: An annular fluid or packer fluid, and methods of making the same, that includes a water-miscible solvent, a viscosifying additive, a crosslinking agent, a crosslinking inhibitor having the facility to inhibit crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, and an initiating agent having the facility to overcome an action of the crosslinking inhibitor and to initiate crosslinking between the viscosifying additive and the crosslinking agent, is shown and described. The fluid has a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.25 btu/(hr·ft·° F.) and a potential to substantially increase its viscosity upon sitting for a selected period of time.

Abstract: A method of reducing fluid loss from a wellbore that includes emplacing a fluid loss pill in the wellbore, the fluid loss pill comprising: a base fluid; a hydratable or solvatable synthetic copolymer having at least one crosslinkable comonomer; and a crosslinking agent is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming a formate brine that includes increasing the pH of a spent formate brine fluid comprising water-soluble polymers; treating the fluid with an oxidizing agent; and removing at least a portion of suspended solids from the fluid is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of treating a well that includes selectively emplacing a fluid loss pill into the well, wherein the fluid loss pill includes at least one of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol, and wherein the at least one of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol reacts with a calcium brine present in the well to form a plug is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preventing fluid loss to a wellbore that includes pumping a wellbore fluid into the wellbore through a subterranean formation, the wellbore fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a plurality of particulate bridging agents comprising a solid breaking agent encapsulated by one of an inorganic solid material and an oil-soluble resin; and allowing some filtration of the wellbore fluid into the subterranean formation to produce a filter cake comprising the particulate bridging agents is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an indicator precursor composition for determining the hardness of a wellbore fluid filtrate comprises a colorimetric indicator and a buffer comprising a salt of a weak acid and a strong base, wherein the indicator precursor composition is a dry solid. Also disclosed is a method to determine the hardness of a wellbore fluid filtrate.

Abstract: A method for recovering gas from a subterranean formation having a hydrate deposit located therein and a gas reservoir located under the hydrate deposit that includes injecting a hydrate-forming fluid into an upper region of the gas reservoir neighboring the hydrate deposit; and producing gaseous hydrocarbons from a lower region of the gas reservoir is disclosed.