Abstract: An embodiment of a method of cementing comprises: introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises cement kiln dust, a natural pozzolan, and water; and allowing the cement composition to set. Another embodiment of a method comprises: introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises a cement, a natural pozzolan, and water, wherein the cement comprises Portland cement interground with burned shale; and allowing the cement composition to set. Another embodiment includes a cement composition comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of cement, cement kiln dust, Portland cement interground with burned shale, and a combination thereof; a natural pozzolan; and water.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a guar gum powder, the method comprising the steps of: (a) flaking undehusked guar splits; and (b) grinding the flaked, undehusked guar splits to obtain guar gum powder. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) an aqueous fluid; and (ii) a guar gum powder comprising at least 70% by weight gum material and at least 15% by weight husk material; and (b) introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation through the wellbore, According to yet another aspect of the invention, the product of the method for producing a guar gum powder is used in the method for treating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of cementing comprises: introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises cement kiln dust, a natural pozzolan, and water; and allowing the cement composition to set. Another embodiment of a method comprises: introducing a cement composition into a subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises a cement, a natural pozzolan, and water, wherein the cement comprises Portland cement interground with burned shale; and allowing the cement composition to set. Another embodiment includes a cement composition comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of cement, cement kiln dust, Portland cement interground with burned shale, and a combination thereof; a natural pozzolan; and water.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing guar gum, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sizing husk from guar seed into larger pieces and smaller pieces, (b) washing the larger pieces, (c) soaking the larger pieces, and (d) flaking the larger pieces to obtain guar gum. The invention also provides a method for processing undehusked guar splits, the method comprising the steps of: (a) dehusking undehusked guar splits to obtain dehusked guar splits and husk, and (b) sizing the husk into larger pieces and smaller pieces.

Abstract: An example method of cementing in a subterranean formation includes determining a settable composition for use in the subterranean formation; calculating a total carbon footprint of the settable composition; determining at least one additive for use in the settable composition, wherein the additive replaces at least a portion of the settable composition and reduces the total carbon footprint of the settable composition; preparing the settable composition comprising the additive; placing the settable composition comprising the additive in the subterranean formation; and allowing the settable composition comprising the additive to set in the subterranean formation. Additional embodiments of the present invention include determining an amount of reduction in the carbon footprint of the settable composition; and/or communicating the amount of reduction in the carbon footprint of the settable composition to a customer or end user.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a rheological property of a fluid with a particulate includes: (a) a receptacle having a cylindrical side wall enclosed by a bottom wall defining a cavity for receiving a fluid to be tested; (b) an axial support adapted to be positioned in the cavity of the receptacle, whereby relative rotational motion can be imparted to the receptacle and the axial support; (c) at least one inward projection extending inward from an inside surface of the receptacle; (d) at least one outward projection extending outward from the axial support; and (e) at least one projection for directing fluid flow that has at least one major surface angled or curved upward. A method of testing a rheological property of a fluid with a particulate includes: (a) placing a sample of the fluid and the particulate in the apparatus; (b) imparting relative rotational motion to the receptacle and the axial support; and (c) measuring the torque between the receptacle and the axial support.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a rheological property of a fluid with a particulate includes: (a) a receptacle having a cylindrical side wall enclosed by a bottom wall defining a cavity for receiving a fluid to be tested; (b) an axial support adapted to be positioned in the cavity of the receptacle, whereby relative rotational motion can be imparted to the receptacle and the axial support; (c) at least one inward projection extending inward from an inside surface of the receptacle; (d) at least one outward projection extending outward from the axial support; and (e) at least one projection for directing fluid flow that has at least one major surface angled or curved upward. A method of testing a rheological property of a fluid with a particulate includes: (a) placing a sample of the fluid and the particulate in the apparatus; (b) imparting relative rotational motion to the receptacle and the axial support; and (c) measuring the torque between the receptacle and the axial support.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a guar gum powder, the method comprising the steps of: (a) flaking undehusked guar splits; and (b) grinding the flaked, undehusked guar splits to obtain guar gum powder. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprises the steps of: (a) forming a treatment fluid, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: (i) an aqueous fluid; and (ii) a guar gum powder comprising at least 70% by weight gum material and at least 15% by weight husk material; and (b) introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation through the wellbore, According to yet another aspect of the invention, the product of the method for producing a guar gum powder is used in the method for treating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, and placing the highly deformable elastic plug into a wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, combining the highly deformable elastic plug with at least one conventional plug to form plug combination, and placing the plug combination into a wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, placing the highly deformable elastic plug into a wellbore, and deforming the highly deformable elastic plug.

Abstract: A method of controlling the physical interface between two wellbore servicing fluids during the displacement of one wellbore servicing fluid by another, the method comprising selecting a liquid plug having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the two wellbore servicing fluids, introducing a first wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore, introducing a volume of the liquid plug into the wellbore, and introducing a second wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore, wherein the liquid plug is selected such that the mixing between the two wellbore servicing fluids is minimized.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for improving the suspension of solids in liquids; more particularly, to reducing the potential stresses caused by increased particle loading in a fluid. An example of a method is a method of enhancing the flow of particles. Another example of a method is a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of gravel packing a portion of a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of enhancing the flow of drill cuttings. An example of a composition is a treatment fluid comprising a liquid component and a solid component.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for placing particulate materials in subterranean zones penetrated by well bores. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a compacted particulate material fluid that comprises a compacted particulate material, and a foam within the pore spaces of the compacted particulate material, the foam comprising a pressurized gas and a liquid solution of a foam forming surfactant; and pumping the compacted particulate material fluid into the subterranean zone.

Abstract: A conventional Couette viscometer is transformed to measure yield point, also known as yield stress, and other rheology of various fluids, including ones with particulates. A rotating viscometer includes a driven portion, a responsive body, a standard spring, and a plurality of fins. The fins have predetermined shapes such that the rotating viscometer and the standard spring, connected to the responsive body having at least a portion of the fins, are sensitive to detect yield stress of a test fluid composition in response to a selected rotation imparted to the driven portion. A method of measuring yield stress includes operating a standard rotating viscometer modified with a plurality of intermeshing fins such that a standard spring of the standard rotating viscometer responds to a torque that is related to yield stress and that is imposed by a stressed test material on a portion of the fins connected to the spring.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for placing particulate materials in subterranean zones penetrated by well bores are provided. The methods basically comprise the following steps. A pumpable compacted particulate material fluid is prepared or provided comprising compacted particulate material and a foam within the pore spaces of the compacted particulate material. The foam comprises a pressurized gas and a liquid solution of a foam forming surfactant. After being prepared or provided, the compacted particulate material fluid is pumped into a subterranean zone by way of a well bore penetrating the zone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel hydration tank and method for hydrating gels for use in oil well treatment operations according to which a mixture of water and gel is introduced into the interior of the tank and flows through the tank before being discharged from the tank, whereby specific devices are used to deflect and/or re-direct fluid flow so as to increase the distance traveled for a given fluid volume element, which consequently increases the plug flow efficiency of the tank.

Abstract: A device and a method for testing a viscosified fluid containing particulate indicate when the particulate is in suspension within the fluid and when it is not. The device and method stir the fluid and particulate mixture for a time during which the viscosity of the fluid changes such that during a first period of the stirring time substantially all the particulate remains suspended in the fluid and during a second period of the stirring time substantially all the particulate settles out of suspension in the fluid. A signal is generated during the first and second periods such that the signal has a characteristic that changes from the first period to the second period to indicate the change in particle carrying ability of the fluid. Other characteristics, including crosslinking time, can also be determined. A test chamber includes interacting projections extending from the inner surface of a cup receiving the fluid and from an axial support extending into the fluid in the cup.

Abstract: A conventional Couette viscometer is transformed to measure yield point, also known as yield stress, and other rheology of various fluids, including ones with particulates. A rotating viscometer includes a driven portion, a responsive body, a standard spring, and a plurality of fins. The fins have predetermined shapes such that the rotating viscometer and the standard spring, connected to the responsive body having at least a portion of the fins, are sensitive to detect yield stress of a test fluid composition in response to a selected rotation imparted to the driven portion. A method of measuring yield stress includes operating a standard rotating viscometer modified with a plurality of intermeshing fins such that a standard spring of the standard rotating viscometer responds to a torque that is related to yield stress and that is imposed by a stressed test material on a portion of the fins connected to the spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gel hydration tank and method for hydrating gels for use in oil well treatment operations according to which a mixture of water and gel is introduced into the interior of the tank and flows through the tank before being discharged from the tank, whereby specific devices are used to deflect and/or re-direct fluid flow so as to increase the distance traveled for a given fluid volume element, which consequently increases the plug flow efficiency of the tank.

Abstract: A device and a method for testing a viscosified fluid containing particulate indicate when the particulate is in suspension within the fluid and when it is not. The device and method stir the fluid and particulate mixture for a time during which the viscosity of the fluid changes such that during a first period of the stirring time substantially all the particulate remains suspended in the fluid and during a second period of the stirring time substantially all the particulate settles out of suspension in the fluid. A signal is generated during the first and second periods such that the signal has a characteristic that changes from the first period to the second period to indicate the change in particle carrying ability of the fluid. Other characteristics, including crosslinking time, can also be determined. A test chamber includes interacting projections extending from the inner surface of a cup receiving the fluid and from an axial support extending into the fluid in the cup.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method and apparatus that use ultrasonic signals to measure rheological properties of a fluid flow such as, e.g., the consistency index K, the flow behavior index n′, the yield stress &tgr;0, or other parameters of any given model for shear rate dependent viscosity &eegr;. In one embodiment, the method includes: (a) transmitting an acoustic signal into the fluid flow; (b) receiving acoustic reflections from acoustic reflectors entrained in the fluid flow; (c) determining a Doppler shift of the acoustic reflections in a set of time windows corresponding to a set of desired sampling regions in the fluid flow; and (d) analyzing the Doppler shifts associated with the set of sampling regions to determine one or more rheological properties of the fluid flow. The frequency shift caused by motion of the fluid is proportional to the velocity of the fluid, and this allows the construction of a velocity profile of the fluid flow stream.