Abstract: Fluid additives suitable for use in a wellbore (e.g., a liquid comprising an aqueous miscible fluid, a liquid surfactant, or both) may be converted into a liquid-infiltrated porous silica that is a flowable bulk solid. The flowable bulk solid may then be handled and stored as a traditional solid wellbore additive. For example, the flowable bulk solid may be added to an aqueous fluid to produce a wellbore fluid that is then introduced into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Fluid additives suitable for use in a wellbore (e.g., a liquid comprising an aqueous miscible fluid, a liquid surfactant, or both) may be converted into a liquid-infiltrated porous silica that is a flowable bulk solid. The flowable bulk solid may then be handled and stored as a traditional solid wellbore additive. For example, the flowable bulk solid may be added to an aqueous fluid to produce a wellbore fluid that is then introduced into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of subterranean formations, and more specifically, treatment fluids containing pumicite and methods of using these treatment fluids in subterranean formations, are provided. An example of a method is a method of displacing a fluid in a well bore. Another example of a method is a method of separating fluids in a well bore in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a spacer fluid comprising pumicite and a base fluid.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of subterranean formations, and more specifically, treatment fluids containing pumicite and methods of using these treatment fluids in subterranean formations, are provided. An example of a method is a method of displacing a fluid in a well bore. Another example of a method is a method of separating fluids in a well bore in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a spacer fluid comprising pumicite and a base fluid.

Abstract: Chemical wash compositions comprising a sulfonated lignin and a taurate are provided. In one embodiment, a chemical wash composition is provided comprising water, a sulfonated lignin, and a taurate.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for treating fluids, especially spacer fluids and cement compositions as well as drilling, completion and stimulation fluids including, but not limited to, drilling muds, well cleanup fluids, workover fluids, conformance fluids, gravel pack fluids, acidizing fluids, fracturing fluids and the like for introduction into a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore, wherein the treating fluid comprises zeolite and a carrier fluid. The treating fluid may additionally include one or more of a viscosifier, organic polymer, dispersants, surfactants and weighting materials.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for the treatment of subterranean formations, and more specifically, treatment fluids containing vitrified shale and methods of using these treatment fluids in subterranean formations, are provided. An example of a method is a method of displacing a fluid in a well bore. Another example of a method is a method of separating fluids in a well bore in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a spacer fluid comprising vitrified shale and a base fluid.

Abstract: Methods and cement compositions are provided for sealing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore, wherein the cement composition comprises zeolite, cementitious material, and a mixing fluid.

Abstract: Methods of removing a fluid from a well bore with a chemical wash composition, and more particularly, methods of using chemical wash compositions comprising water, a sulfonated lignin, and a taurate are provided. In one embodiment, a method of at least partially removing a fluid from a well bore surface is provided that comprises: providing a chemical wash composition comprising water, a sulfonated lignin, and a taurate; and contacting the well bore surface with the chemical wash composition to thereby at least partially remove the fluid from the well bore surface.

Abstract: An additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand, is provided. The additive package includes an aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group, a halogenating agent, and optionally one or more surfactants. The polymer substituted with an amino group is preferably chitosan, and the halogenating agent is preferably a sodium hypochlorite solution. A product of the reaction of the polymer and the halogenating agent, in conjunction with the surfactant when present, is capable of causing the separation of at least a portion of the oil from the solid material.

Abstract: Cementing compositions and methods of cementing in a subterranean formation are provided. The cement composition includes a hydraulic cement, lightweight beads, and a desegregating agent for inhibiting segregation of the beads. The lightweight beads may be, for example, cenospheres, glass spheres, and ceramic spheres. The desegregating agent comprises a particulate substrate such as precipitated silica. It also comprises a polar molecule producing chemical disposed on the particulate substrate. Preferably, the polar molecule producing chemical is absorbed on the particulate substrate. The polar molecule producing chemical comprises at least one of a polar molecule producing acid such as glacial acetic acid, a salt of such an acid, and an acid anhydride. The method of cementing includes forming a pumpable slurry using the cement composition, pumping the slurry into a subterranean formation, and allowing the slurry to set.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean cementing operations, and methods of cementing that use such displacement fluids, are provided. Examples of methods include methods of water-wetting an annulus in a subterranean formation having an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid disposed on at least a portion of one or more surfaces of the annulus. Another example of a method is a method of using an inverter fluid in a subterranean formation that includes a tubular string disposed therein having an annular region adjacent the outer surface of the tubular string, at least part of the annular region having an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid on a surface thereof. Another example of a method of the present invention is a method of identifying an inverter fluid to use for inverting an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean cementing operations, and methods of cementing that use such displacement fluids, are provided. Examples of apparatus include apparatus for evaluating fluids. An example of a system is a system for inverting an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid in a well bore in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Methods and cement compositions are provided for sealing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore, wherein the cement composition comprises zeolite, cementitious material, and a mixing fluid.

Abstract: Cementing compositions and methods of cementing in a subterranean formation are provided. The cement composition includes a hydraulic cement, lightweight beads, and a desegregating agent for inhibiting segregation of the beads. The lightweight beads may be, for example, cenospheres, glass spheres, and ceramic spheres. The desegregating agent comprises a particulate substrate such as precipitated silica. It also comprises a polar molecule producing chemical disposed on the particulate substrate. Preferably, the polar molecule producing chemical is absorbed on the particulate substrate. The polar molecule producing chemical comprises at least one of a polar molecule producing acid such as glacial acetic acid, a salt of such an acid, and an acid anhydride. The method of cementing includes forming a pumpable slurry using the cement composition, pumping the slurry into a subterranean formation, and allowing the slurry to set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process and an additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand. In this process, the solid material is passed from the well bore to a separation zone. An aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group is introduced to the separation zone containing the solid material along with a halogenating agent and optionally one or more surfactants. The polymer, halogenating agent, and optional surfactant constitute the additive package. The polymer substituted with an amino group is preferably chitosan, and the halogenating agent is preferably a sodium hypochlorite solution. The mixture formed in the separation zone is agitated to cause a product of a reaction between the polymer and the halogenating agent to contact the solid material and remove residual oil therefrom.

Abstract: An additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand, is provided. The additive package includes an aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group, a halogenating agent, and optionally one or more surfactants. The polymer substituted with an amino group is preferably chitosan, and the halogenating agent is preferably a sodium hypochlorite solution. A product of the reaction of the polymer and the halogenating agent, in conjunction with the surfactant when present, is capable of causing the separation of at least a portion of the oil from the solid material.

Abstract: Cementing compositions and methods of cementing in a subterranean formation are provided. The cement composition includes a hydraulic cement, lightweight beads, and a desegregating agent for inhibiting segregation of the beads. The lightweight beads may be, for example, cenospheres, glass spheres, and ceramic spheres. The desegregating agent comprises a particulate substrate such as precipitated silica. It also comprises a polar molecule producing chemical disposed on the particulate substrate. Preferably, the polar molecule producing chemical is absorbed on the particulate substrate. The polar molecule producing chemical comprises at least one of a polar molecule producing acid such as glacial acetic acid, a salt of such an acid, and an acid anhydride. The method of cementing includes forming a pumpable slurry using the cement composition, pumping the slurry into a subterranean formation, and allowing the slurry to set.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for removing a water-based drilling fluid from surfaces in a well bore and leaving the surfaces water-wet. A method of the invention basically comprises the following steps. A water-based drilling fluid removal solution comprised of water and a mixture of a sulfonated kraft lignin salt and an N-methyl-N-oleyltaurine salt dissolved therein is provided. The drilling fluid is displaced from the well bore and the well bore surfaces are contacted with the removal solution to thereby remove the drilling fluid from the surfaces and make the surfaces water-wet.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved reactive cement compositions for sealing hydrocarbon containing subterranean zones and methods of using the cement compositions. The sealing compositions are basically comprised of water, a hydraulic cement, an organophillic clay, a hydratable gelling agent and a water soluble alkaline source in effective amounts.