Abstract: Systems and methods to determine a characteristic of a drilling fluid are presented. A method to determine a characteristic of a drilling fluid includes obtaining a measurement of a mud density of a drilling fluid formed from a mixture of a plurality of components. The method also includes obtaining a measurement of a thermal conductivity of the drilling fluid and determining an error function of a calculation of characteristics of the drilling fluid, where the error function is indicative of a threshold difference between the calculation of the characteristics of the drilling fluid and the characteristics of the drilling fluid obtained from retort data of a fluid distillation process. The method further includes determining, based on the error function, an oil water ratio of the drilling fluid and an average specific gravity of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to downhole fluid additives including a clay, a hydroxylated polymer, a cation, and water. The disclosure further relates to downhole fluids, including drilling fluids, spaces, cements, and proppant delivery fluids containing such as downhole fluid additive and methods of using such fluids. The downhole fluid additive may have any of a variety of functions in the downhole fluid and may confer any of a variety of properties upon it, such as salt tolerance or desired viscosities even at high downhole temperatures.

Abstract: Fiber additives that may be useful as lost circulation materials for mitigating fluid loss and/or as bridging agents or diverting agents in subterranean treatment fluids such as drilling fluids. In some embodiments, the fiber additives include a fiber and calcium carbonate disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the fiber. In some embodiments, the methods include providing a treatment fluid that includes the base fluid and the fiber additives, and introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of treating a wellbore in a subterranean formation including introducing a first fluid into a formation, wherein the first fluid comprises: a first water soluble salt and a carrier; placing a second fluid into the formation, wherein the second fluid comprises: a second water soluble salt and a carrier, wherein the first fluid and second fluid produce a solid precipitate upon contact; and allowing the solid precipitate to form in-situ in the formation. An acid may be added to the wellbore after formation of the precipitate. The method may be also used for stabilizing a wellbore during drilling, and shutting off and reopening a region in a formation.

Abstract: Methods including precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials for use in subterranean formation operations. The precipitated calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are formed under a chosen set of precipitation conditions, including in situ in a subterranean formation. The mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials are obtained in a desired morphological form under naturally occurring mined conditions. The precipitated and mined calcium carbonate lost circulation materials may be needle-shaped aragonite having an aspect ratio of about 1.4 to about 15.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein. The method generally includes generating frequency responses of one or more sample fluids having known fluid properties, selecting an equivalent circuit model for modeling the frequency responses, the equivalent circuit model including one or more model elements, calculating an equivalent impedance of the equivalent circuit model, generating a correlation between the one or more model elements and the known fluid properties, measuring an impedance of a drilling fluid, and determining at least one property of the drilling fluid based on the correlation between the one or more model elements and the known fluid properties.

Abstract: Characterizing the decay of the microstructure of a drilling fluid gel using a model based on two exponential functions. Based on the model, identify at least two components of the decay model comprising a fast decay component and a slow decay component, wherein the fast decay component decays more quickly than the slow decay component. The decay of the microstructure of the gel over a time period can be determined using a rheometer or viscometer. Wellbore processes, including start up and tripping operations can be optimized based on the determination of the fast decay component and/or a slow decay component of the drilling fluid gel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the composition of a drilling fluid using electro-rheology.

Abstract: The disclosure presents a technique for predicting the composition of a borehole mud using a thermal conductivity parameter of the mud and a dilution liquid. The mud can be altered by conditions within the borehole, such as material, fluid, and temperature affecting the original mud composition pumped into the borehole location. The mud can be an oil-based, water-based, or another type of mud of a well system. The technique can extract a measured quantity of mud and place it into a mud container. A first thermal conductivity parameter can be calculated for the extracted mud. A dilution liquid can be mixed into the extracted mud in the mud container and a second thermal conductivity parameter calculation can be performed. From the calculated first and second thermal conductivity parameters, the composition of the mud, as well as the fractional proportions of the major components of the mud, can be predicted and computed.

Abstract: Drilling fluid can be monitored throughout a drill site and at various stages of drilling operations. The drilling fluid may be analyzed to identify components that make the drilling fluid as well as the volume of each of the components, The volume of each component can be used, for example, to determine a percentage of water in a water-based drilling fluid and the average specific gravity of the water-based drilling fluid without further decomposition of the drilling fluid. The percentage of water and the average specific gravity can then be used to modify the drilling fluid, in real-time, based on conditions in the wellbore.

Abstract: Compressed lost circulation materials for use in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include: introducing a treatment fluid that includes a base fluid and a compressed lost circulation material into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation including a loss zone, the compressed lost circulation material including a binding material and a compressed material; allowing the binding material to at least partially degrade or dissolve; and allowing the compressed lost circulation material to at least partially expand in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Insulating fluids for use in drilling, production, and other applications are provided, the insulating fluids containing a porous medium (such as a sponge or foam) to limit the mobility of the liquid phase of the insulating fluid. The porous medium in the insulating fluid provides a mechanical means for reducing convective heat transfer, as the small pore spaces within the porous media create tortuous paths for the liquid moving therethrough. Methods include introducing the insulating fluid into an annulus of a drilling, riser, production, packer, or pipeline assembly to reduce heat transfer therethrough.

Abstract: Systems and methods for this disclosure describe systems and methods that are directed to monitoring active clay in water-based drilling fluid may be provided. A method for monitoring active clay concentration while drilling may be provided. The method may include providing a sample of water-based drilling fluid. The method may further include adding methylene blue to the sample in a methylene blue titration. The method may further include performing an impedance measurement on the sample during the methylene blue titration. The method may further include determining an endpoint of the methylene blue titration using a phase angle measurement from the impedance measurement. The method may further include correlating the endpoint to the active clay concentration of the sample. The method may further include determining a treatment for the water-based drilling fluid based on the active clay concentration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measurement of the oil content in oil-based drilling may be provided in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. A method for measuring oil content of an oil-based drilling fluid may include providing a sample of the oil-based drilling fluid. The method may further include performing electro impedance spectroscopy on the sample by a process that comprises applying an alternating electric current to the sample and measuring a response of sample to obtain electro impedance spectroscopy measurements. The method may further include determining an estimate of the oil content of the sample based, at least partially on the electro impedance spectroscopy measurements.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features relate to a system and a sensor that provides real-time, downhole cutting concentration measurements. Electrical impedance measurements can be used in conjunction with a wired drill pipe to monitor the drill cuttings in the annulus under downhole conditions and along the drill string. This measurement provides direct information for optimal cuttings cleaning efficiency. In some examples, the system includes the sensor, a processing device connected to the sensor, and a non-transitory memory device including instructions that are executable by the processing device to cause the processing device to apply a transmitted signal to the sensor, receive an impedance signal from the sensor, and correlate the impedance signal with a wellbore cuttings concentration. In some examples the sensor includes multiple electrodes attachable to a drill string.

Abstract: Systems and methods to determine a characteristic of a drilling fluid are presented. A method to determine a characteristic of a drilling fluid includes obtaining a measurement of a mud density of a drilling fluid formed from a mixture of a plurality of components. The method also includes obtaining a measurement of a thermal conductivity of the drilling fluid and determining an error function of a calculation of characteristics of the drilling fluid, where the error function is indicative of a threshold difference between the calculation of the characteristics of the drilling fluid and the characteristics of the drilling fluid obtained from retort data of a fluid distillation process. The method further includes determining, based on the error function, an oil water ratio of the drilling fluid and an average specific gravity of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods measure a specified volume of a drilling fluid for a test sample. An electrical parameter of the test sample is measured; and a chemical formulated to effect a change in the electrical parameter of the test sample is added in known increments. After each incremental addition of the chemical, the electrical parameter of the test sample is measured to determine if the electrical parameter measurement is at a stable value. When the electrical parameter measurement is at a stable value, the electrical parameter is correlated with an amount of water in the drilling fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to downhole fluid additives including a clay, a hydroxylated polymer, a cation, and water. The disclosure further relates to downhole fluids, including drilling fluids, spaces, cements, and proppant delivery fluids containing such as downhole fluid additive and methods of using such fluids. The downhole fluid additive may have any of a variety of functions in the downhole fluid and may confer any of a variety of properties upon it, such as salt tolerance or desired viscosities even at high downhole temperatures.

Abstract: An abrasive composition comprising a substrate selected from the group consisting of a fibrous substrate, a sponge substrate, and combinations thereof and a plurality of calcium carbonate particles dispersed therein; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of calcium carbonate particles contact the substrate; wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a plurality of fibers; wherein each fiber of the plurality of fibers is characterized by an aspect ratio of equal to or greater than about 2:1; wherein the sponge substrate is characterized by a porosity of equal to or greater than about 5 vol. %, based on the total volume of the sponge substrate; and wherein the abrasive composition is characterized by an abrasiveness that is greater than the abrasiveness of the substrate in the absence of the plurality of calcium carbonate particles.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods measure a specified volume of a drilling fluid for a test sample. An electrical parameter of the test sample is measured; and a chemical formulated to effect a change in the electrical parameter of the test sample is added in known increments. After each incremental addition of the chemical, the electrical parameter of the test sample is measured to determine if the electrical parameter measurement is at a stable value. When the electrical parameter measurement is at a stable value, the electrical parameter is correlated with an amount of water in the drilling fluid.