Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing composition includes: a superabsorbent polymer in an expanded state; a plurality of proppant particles disposed in the superabsorbent polymer; an additive comprising a surfactant, a viscose polymer, or a combination thereof, and a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into the expanded state. A process for disposing a plurality of proppant particles in a fracture comprises: disposing a hydraulic fracturing composition in a downhole environment; forming a fracture; disposing the hydraulic fracturing composition in the fracture; breaking the superabsorbent polymer after forming the fracture; and releasing the plurality of proppant particles from superabsorbent polymer. The process also comprises injecting a proppant-free fluid and a proppant-containing fluid in an alternating order into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an energy industry operation includes: collecting measurement data in real time during an energy industry operation; automatically analyzing the measurement data by a processor, wherein analyzing includes generating a measurement data pattern indicating the values of a parameter as a function of depth or time; automatically comparing the measurement data pattern to a reference data pattern generated based on historical data relating to a previously performed operation having a characteristic common to the operation; predicting whether an undesirable condition will occur during the operation based on the comparison; and based on the processor predicting that the undesirable condition will occur, estimating a time at which the undesirable condition is predicted to occur, and automatically performing a remedial action to prevent the undesirable condition from occurring.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well comprises: combining an aqueous carrier with a superabsorbent polymer and a borated galactomannan to form a hydraulic fracturing composition; and pumping the hydraulic fracturing composition into the well.

Abstract: A method and system for treating a wellbore, where an additive casting having energetic material and a treatment substance is deployed downhole, and then the energetic material is reacted so that it releases the treatment substance into the wellbore. A perforating system is used to initiate the reaction of the energetic material. An example of the energetic material includes a propellant that generates gases which urge the treatment substance into openings in sidewalls of the wellbore, such as perforations or fractures. One embodiment of the treatment substance includes a crystalline anhydrous acid.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of evaluating fluid trapping in an earth formation includes injecting a water-based fluid into at least one fluid channel fabricated on a substrate, the at least one fluid channel having a pore structure configured to represent a condition of an earth formation. The method also includes injecting oil into an inlet of the at least one fluid channel until at least a selected amount of the injected oil exits the channel, imaging the fluid channel and determining an amount of remaining fluid in the fluid channel after injection of the oil, the remaining fluid being an amount of the oil and/or an amount of the water-based fluid, and estimating a proportion of the total volume of the fluid channel occupied by the remaining fluid to determine an amount of fluid trapping in the pore structure. The method further includes analyzing the amount of fluid trapping.

Abstract: A system and method for stimulating hydrocarbon production from a wellbore that perforates the formation around the wellbore in strategic locations so that fractures can be formed in the formation having specific orientations. The system includes deep penetration perforators that extend past a portion of the formation adjacent the wellbore having locally high internal stresses (a stress cage); and big hole perforators that form perforations with a larger entrance diameter. The perforators form perforations in the formation that are axially consolidated along the wellbore. After perforating, the wellbore is hydraulically fractured with high pressure fluid, which creates fractures in a formation surrounding the wellbore that extend radially outward from the perforations. Creating perforations that are axially consolidated reduces the chances of forming competing fractures in the formation during fracturing.

Abstract: A fluid-impermeable barrier, used to isolate stimulated intervals in a reservoir during a multi-zone fracturing operation, may be removed from the wellbore which penetrates the reservoir using a circulating fluid containing dissolvable solid particulates. The dissolvable solid particulates bridge perforation clusters during clean-out of the wellbore and thus inhibit passage of the circulating fluid into the fracture network through the perforation clusters.

Abstract: A method of removing residual proppant from a bottom of a casing after a fracturing operation comprises: circulating a casing flush fluid comprising a carrier and a superabsorbent polymer in the casing; and transporting the residual proppant from the bottom of the casing to a fracture created by a hydraulic fracturing operation. A method for cleaning a wellbore comprises: introducing a cleanout fluid through a conduit inserted into the wellbore, the cleanout fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a superabsorbent polymer; and receiving a returning fluid comprising debris at the surface of the wellbore from an annular space between the conduit and a wall of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation comprises forming a storable aqueous suspension comprising a carrier fluid, a superabsorbent polymer, a proppant the proppant being suspended in the carrier fluid as a substantially perfectly supported particulate; diluting the storable aqueous suspension in-line to a desired concentration; and introducing the diluted storable aqueous suspension into the subterranean formation. A sand control method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprises: providing a diverting fluid comprising a carrier fluid, a first superabsorbent polymer and a second superabsorbent polymer, the second superabsorbent polymer having a shape, or a composition, or a combination thereof different from that of the first superabsorbent polymer; injecting the diverting fluid into the subterranean formation; and injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation after injecting the diverting fluid. A viscosity modifying agent can be present in the diverting fluid. Superabsorbent polymers can also be used to develop a temporary filter cake at the formation face to reduce or eliminate the fluid leakoff out of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an energy industry operation includes: collecting measurement data in real time during an energy industry operation; automatically analyzing the measurement data by a processor, wherein analyzing includes generating a measurement data pattern indicating the values of a parameter as a function of depth or time; automatically comparing the measurement data pattern to a reference data pattern generated based on historical data relating to a previously performed operation having a characteristic common to the operation; predicting whether an undesirable condition will occur during the operation based on the comparison; and based on the processor predicting that the undesirable condition will occur, estimating a time at which the undesirable condition is predicted to occur, and automatically performing a remedial action to prevent the undesirable condition from occurring.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of performing an energy industry operation includes: collecting historical data relating to one or more previously performed operations having a characteristic common to both the one or more previously performed operations and a proposed operation; planning the proposed operation based on the historical data, the proposed operation associated with one or more operational parameters; performing the proposed operation; measuring a condition during performance of the proposed operation and comparing the measured condition to the historical data; and automatically adjusting the one or more operational parameters based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for hydraulically isolating a portion of a multizone wellbore by providing a plug proximate the portion of the wellbore. The plug may be a proppant combined with a polymer. The proppant may be an ultra-lightweight proppant and the polymer may be cross-linked. The polymer may be a superabsorbent polymer or a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide. The plug may be formed by placing a pill of proppant and polymer within the wellbore and slowing pumping fluid down to cause the pill to bridge off and form a plug. The pill may also include a lightweight filler. The plug may be used to hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore during a fracturing or re-fracturing process. Multiple plugs may be placed along the wellbore to hydraulically isolate portions of the wellbore during the fracturing or re-fracturing process.

Abstract: A diverter fluid includes an aqueous carrier fluid, and a plurality of water-swellable polymer particles having a size of 0.01 to 100,000 micrometers. A method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a reservoir includes injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture, injecting a diverter fluid into the formation, and injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation, wherein the flow of the fracturing fluid is impeded by the diverting agent and a surface fracture area of the fracture is increased. A method of controlling the downhole placement of a diverting agent is also disclosed, including injecting a diverter fluid including the diverting agent and an aqueous carrier fluid selected so that the polymer particles are fully swelled after contacting the aqueous carrier fluid for an amount of time sufficient to achieve a desired downhole placement.

Abstract: A method for hydraulically isolating a portion of a multizone wellbore by providing a plug proximate the portion of the wellbore. The plug may be a proppant combined with a polymer. The proppant may be an ultra-lightweight proppant and the polymer may be cross-linked. The polymer may be a superabsorbent polymer or a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide. The plug may be formed by placing a pill of proppant and polymer within the wellbore and slowing pumping fluid down to cause the pill to bridge off and form a plug. The pill may also include a lightweight filler. The plug may be used to hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore during a fracturing or re-fracturing process. Multiple plugs may be placed along the wellbore to hydraulically isolate portions of the wellbore during the fracturing or re-fracturing process.

Abstract: A method of delivering fluids into an underground geological formation to promote formation breakdown includes inputting, into a user interface, one or more geological formation parameters, inputting, into the user interface, one or more wellbore parameters, inputting, into the user interface, one or more fluid injection parameters, and calculating a desired breakdown pumping style based on each of the one or more geological formation parameters, one or more wellbore parameters, and one or more fluid injection parameters to promote geological formation breakdown.

Abstract: The flow of well treatment fluids may be diverted from a high permeability zone to a low permeability zone within a fracture network within a subterranean formation by use of a mixture comprising a dissolvable diverter and a proppant. At least a portion of the high permeability zone is propped open with the proppant of the mixture and at least a portion of the high permeability zone is blocked with the diverter. A fluid is then pumped into the subterranean formation and into a lower permeability zone of the formation farther from the wellbore. The diverter in the high permeability zones may then be dissolved at in-situ reservoir conditions and hydrocarbons produced from the high permeability propped zones of the fracture network. The mixture has particular applicability in the enhancement of production or hydrocarbons from high permeability zones in a fracture network located near the wellbore.

Abstract: The flow of a fluid may be diverted from a high permeability zone to a low permeability portion of a subterranean formation by use of particulates comprising a mixture of (i) at least one aliphatic polyester having the general formula of repeating units: where n is an integer between 75 and 10,000 and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, acetyl, heteroatoms, and mixtures thereof; and (ii) at least one compound of the formula: or an anhydride thereof wherein: R1 is —COO—(R5O)y—R4 or —H; R2 and R3 are selected from the group consisting of —H and —COO—(R5O)y—R4; provided both R2 or R3 are —COO—(R5O)y—R4 when R1 is —H and further provided only one of R2 or R3 is —COO—(R5O)y—R4 when R1 is —COO—(R5O)y—R4 R4 is —H or a C1-C6 alkyl group; R5 is a C1-C6 alkylene group; and each y is 0 to 5.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing composition includes: a superabsorbent polymer in an expanded state; a plurality of proppant particles disposed in the superabsorbent polymer; an additive comprising a surfactant, a viscose polymer, or a combination thereof, and a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into the expanded state. A process for disposing a plurality of proppant particles in a fracture comprises: disposing a hydraulic fracturing composition in a downhole environment; forming a fracture; disposing the hydraulic fracturing composition in the fracture; breaking the superabsorbent polymer after forming the fracture; and releasing the plurality of proppant particles from superabsorbent polymer. The process also comprises injecting a proppant-free fluid and a proppant-containing fluid in an alternating order into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The complexity of a fracture network within a subterranean formation may be enhanced by pumping a high breakdown pressure fluid followed by a low breakdown pressure fluid into the formation. The method increases the Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV) of the formation and provides for a network of ancillary fractures within the formation.