Abstract: Crosslinked polymers that may be useful, for example, as viscosifiers or fluid-loss control additives for well treatment and servicing fluids are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a crosslinked polymer composition comprising at least one polymer that comprise at least one N-vinyl lactam monomeric unit, and at least one crosslinker selected from the group consisting of: an acrylamide-based crosslinker, an acrylate-based crosslinker, an ester-based crosslinker, an amide-based crosslinker, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Spacer fluids that are stable at temperatures up to at least 260° C. comprise water, polystyrene sulfonate and a mixture of particulate materials. The particulate materials may be chosen such that the mixture has at least a trimodal particle-size distribution. The fluids may further comprise inorganic clays, mutual solvents and surfactants.

Abstract: The intention was to improve the primary washing power of washing and cleaning agents in particular towards oily and/or greasy soiling This was achieved substantially by incorporating polymers containing styrenesulfonic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hollow hydrogel capsules. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation with a hollow hydrogel capsule including a hydrogel shell including a hydrolyzed and crosslinked polymerized composition. The hollow hydrogel capsule also includes a hollow interior including at least one component of a downhole composition for subterranean petroleum or water well drilling, stimulation, clean-up, production, completion, abandonment, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the present invention provides compositions comprising the hollow hydrogel capsules and methods of making the hollow hydrogel capsules.

Abstract: A copolymer and preparation method and application thereof are disclosed. The copolymer is random copolymer obtained from monomers consisting of acrylamide, acrylic acid, alkenyl sulfonate, 2-acrylamido-dodecyl sulfonate, p-styrene sulfonate or isoprene sulfonate and so on. The copolymer of present invention can be used as fluid loss additive and has good fluid loss properties, which would not make the drilling fluid thicken at high temperature of 200° C. and high salt conditions of saturated brine. It has a medium-pressure fluid loss after aging and rolling for 16 h at high temperature of 200° C., as measured in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute Standard Test at room temperature, and has good properties of high temperature-resisting and salt-resisting.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to controlling the viscosity of water-based mud systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for thinning and deflocculating aqueous based fluids used in well drilling and other well operations in subterranean formations, especially subterranean formations containing oil and/or gas. The invention also relates to a drilling fluid thinner and/or dispersant having improved temperature stability, dispersing properties and “solids contamination” tolerance.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation, comprising placing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising a drilling fluid and lost circulation material into a lost circulation zone within the wellbore, wherein the lost circulation material comprises a polyelectrolyte multilayer material and a first counterion. A wellbore servicing fluid comprising a drilling fluid and a lost circulation material comprising a polyelectrolyte multilayer material and a counterion comprising a halide, wherein the LCM has a first state that is hydrophilic. A tunable lost circulation material comprising a base material, a polyelectrolyte multilayer on said base material, wherein the polyelectrolyte multilayer comprises a first electrolyte layer, a second electrolyte layer, and a charged surface, and a counterion, wherein wettability of the lost circulation material is a function of the counterion.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the finding that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially utilized in drilling fluids that are utilized in drilling subterreanean wells. For instance, it has been unexpectedly found that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially used as total or partial replacements for organoclays in oil based drilling fluids.

Abstract: Stabilized emulsion compositions comprising an oleaginous fluid, a fluid that is at least partially immiscible with the oleaginous fluid, and, an emulsion stabilizing agent. The emulsion stabilizing agent comprises a first ionic compound soluble in the oleaginous fluid or the fluid that is at least partially immiscible with the oleaginous fluid and a second ionic compound with a charge of opposite sign of the first ionic compound and that is at least partially soluble in the opposite fluid as the first ionic compound. The first ionic compound and the second ionic compound are selected from the group consisting of: a cationic ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic polyelectrolyte, an anionic polyelectrolyte, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of formulating a wellbore fluid that includes precipitating a weighting agent from a solution; and adding the precipitated weighting agent to a base fluid to form a wellbore fluid is disclosed. Fluids and methods of formulating wellbore fluids that contain dispersant coated precipitated weighting agents are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for analyzing formation fluid in a subterranean formation is disclosed, wherein the method includes the steps of: adding a scavenger compound to an analytical reagent to form a reagent solution; collecting an amount of formation fluid into a formation tester, wherein the formation tester includes at least one fluids analyzer comprising at least one probe, at least one flow line, at least one reagent container, and at least one spectral analyzer, wherein the fluids analyzer is configured such that the collected formation fluid is fed through the at least one flow line to the at least one spectral analyzer; mixing an amount of the collected formation fluid with an amount of the reagent solution to form a mixture; and analyzing the mixture downhole.

Abstract: A copolymer containing, as monomer components, a) at least one sulfonic acid-containing compound, b) at least one nitrogen-containing N-vinylamide, one acrylamide or methacrylamide and c) at least one bifunctional or higher-functional vinyl ether is proposed. These copolymers are suitable in particular as thixotropic agents, antisegregation agents and water retention agents and overall as an additive in cement-containing but also gypsum-based systems. Such copolymers having a molecular weight of >40 000 g/mol can be used in particular as admixtures in the exploration of mineral oil and natural gas deposits.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the finding that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially utilized in drilling fluids that are utilized in drilling subterreanean wells. For instance, it has been unexpectedly found that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially used as total or partial replacements for organoclays in oil based drilling fluids.

Abstract: A thermal insulation composition comprising: aqueous base; one or more primary viscosifier comprising a quantity of clay; and, an amount of one or more polymeric viscosifier comprising sulfonate moiety.

Abstract: This invention is based upon the finding that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially utilized in drilling fluids that are utilized in drilling subterreanean wells. For instance, it has been unexpectedly found that certain chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers can be beneficially used as total or partial replacements for organoclays in oil based drilling fluids. The chlorosulfonated a-olefin copolymers that are useful in the practice of this invention are typically chlorosulfonated ethylene/octene copolymers or chlorosulfonated ethylene/butene copolymers. The utilization of chlorosulfonated ?-olefin copolymers in oil-based drilling fluids offers (1) long service life at high operating temperatures, (2) minimal formation damage, (3) improved filtration behavior, and (4) highly effective performance at low viscosifier levels.

Abstract: Latex additives, methods for treating latex additives, drilling fluid systems, and lost circulation pills comprising the latex additives, the latex additive comprising latex particles having a particle size distribution before aging comprising an average particle diameter of about 1 micron or less; and a quantity of one or more water soluble oxygenated organic molecules comprising two or more oxygen atoms effective to maintain substantially the same particle size distribution before and after freezing the latex additive.

Abstract: A copolymer based on olefinic sulphonic acids as monomer component a) and an organosilicone-containing compound as reactive component b) is proposed, for which in particular 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS®) is suitable as component a) and vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane and trichlorosilane as component b). This copolymer, which may have a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, may also comprise further reaction components c) and d) in addition to the two main components for which further reaction components (meth)acrylamides or vinyl ethers are suitable. These copolymers, which are obtainable in particular by precipitation or gel polymerizations, are used in particular in applications in construction chemistry and here especially as water retention agents and fluid loss additives in drilling fluids and for well cementing.

Abstract: There is provided a wellbore fluid having a continuous aqueous phase, and comprising at least one polymer which contains both hydrophilic units and hydrophobic units, at least some of said hydrophilic units containing sulfonate groups, and less than 50% by weight of said hydrophilic units comprising —CH2.CH2.O— units; and at least some of said hydrophobic units containing pendant alkyl groups having at least 8 carbon atoms. Such aqueous based wellbore fluids exhibit significantly improved fluid loss properties when used in wellbore operations, such as drilling, completion or workover.

Abstract: Subject matter of the present invention is a drilling fluid additive based on sulfonated asphalt, which comprises a water soluble and anionic polymer component in quantities of 0.1 to 20 wt. %, with respect to the total additive in addition to the asphalt component. With this additive the water solubility of sulfonated asphalt can be markedly increased. This additive, whose polymer component is thermally highly stable, is utilized primarily in water- and/or oil-based drilling fluids and in particular in the exploration of subterraneous petroleum and natural gas deposits. Typical polymer components to consider are representatives of polycondensation products, such as phenol resins, ketone resins and sulfonated naphthalene, acetone and amino plasticizer resins (for example urea and melamine resins).

Abstract: The present application relates to granules of powdery mineral particles produced by spray granulation of a liquid slurry comprising powdery minerals particles having particle size below 10 m, at least one water-reducing agent and/or at least one binder agent and/or at least one dispersing agent. The application further relates to a method for producing such granules.

Abstract: A water-based drilling fluid having a polymer latex capable of providing a deformable latex film on at least a portion of a subterranean formation has been discovered to provide reduced drilling fluid pressure invasion when used to drill in shale formations for hydrocarbon recovery operations. A precipitating agent such as a silicate or an aluminum complex (e.g. sodium aluminate) is preferably used in conjunction with the polymer. Typically, the water present contains a salt to form a brine, often to saturation, although the invention may be practiced with fresh water. If a salt is employed, it is often helpful to additionally employ a surfactant, such as a betaine, for example.

Abstract: A device and method for ablating tissue includes a sheath system with an occlusion structure. In certain embodiments, arrhythmias originating in pulmonary veins are treated cryogenically.

Abstract: Compositions for increasing the thermal and pressure stability of well fluids viscosified using viscoelastic surfactants, the compositions including an effective amount of an oligomeric or polymeric compound that has a thermally stable backbone structure and at least one pendent viscoelastic surfactant functional group. Preferred compositions for increasing the stability of well fluids viscosified using monomeric viscoelastic surfactants include an effective amount of an oligomeric or polymeric compound that has a thermally stable backbone structure and a multiplicity of pendent viscoelastic surfactant functional groups attached to said backbone structure through relatively long hydrocarbon chains, 1 to 18 carbons in length.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for wellbore treating fluids, especially drilling fluids, that comprise zeolite and a carrier fluid.

Abstract: Water soluble associative polymers and compositions comprising them together with alkali metal salts of carboxylic acid are disclosed. Methods comprise introducing into a wellbore a fluid comprising such associative polymers and alkali metal salts of carboxylic acid, e.g., cesium formate. Disclosed water soluble associative polymers have functionality including at least sulfonate groups, carboxylate groups and hydrophobes associative with one another in a saturated aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid.

Abstract: An excavation fluid composition useful for enlarging a cavity in the earth includes a synthetic polymer and sodium silicate. The excavation fluid composition is formulated so as to enable the fluid in contact with unstable or sandy soils in the selected areas of the excavation to react and form silicate-based derivatives with lesser solubility, and movement and thus improve soil stability at the excavation wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous fluid useful for the recovery of a liquid hydrocarbon from subterranean reservoirs comprising an aqueous media and a surfactant blend. The aqueous fluid has an alkaline pH. The surfactant blend comprises at least one synthetic polyisobutylene surfactant and at least one secondary surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfonate surfactants, alcohols and nonionic surfactants. The surfactant blend lowers the interfacial tension between hydrocarbon oil and the aqueous fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water-based fluid, in particular for drilling, completion or for any other intervention in a well such as a hydrocarbon well, in which the viscosity is controlled by a system constituted by precipitated silica nanoparticles (A) associated with a water-soluble copolymer (B) comprising one or more water-soluble co-monomers (I) having little or no affinity for silica and one or more co-monomers (II) which absorb onto the silica. The invention is of particular application to the secondary recovery of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rheology stabilizer or thinner for high-temperature high-pressure high-mineralized degree drilling fluids, methods of their preparation and use. The rheology stabilizer is a copolymer synthesized by an olefinic acid, ester of an olefinic acid, a sulfonic acid containing unsaturated linkage(s), an amide or imide containing unsaturated linkage(s), a quaternary compound containing olefinic linkage(s) reacting chemically with phosphorous acid or hypophosphorous acid, more particularly, copolymer of acrylic acid, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, N-(4-sulfophenyl)-maleimide, allyltrimethylammonium chloride and phosphorous acid. The copolymers have very high resistance to high-temperature high-pressure high-valence ions, can high-effectively adjust the rheology and thixotropy of drilling fluids, and can be used as the rheology stabilizer, thinner, clay and shale stabilizer of drilling fluids.

Abstract: Water based drilling fluid compositions which contain at least one viscosity builder and at least one rheological control agent wherein the rheological control agent is an amphoteric polymer, the cationic groups of the amphoteric polymer being quaternary ammonium groups.

Abstract: Compositions and methods useful in creating boreholes, tunnels and other excavations in unstable soils and earth formations, especially those composed partially or wholly of sand, gravel or other granular or permeable material are disclosed. The fluids include a polymer, and a soluble silicate ion source. The fluids of the invention, when used according to the methods of the invention, have unique dual functionality as excavating fluids and as earth-grouting or soil-hardening compositions.

Abstract: A drilling fluid comprising a blend of brine and additives for maintaining rheological properties in a neutral or slightly acidic brine and a method for using the drilling fluid to drill into a producing formation are disclosed. The drilling fluid comprises viscosifying polymer and fluid loss polymer that function in the brine without substantially adversely affecting their properties. The brine is substantially free of insoluble solids. The viscosifying polymer and/or the fluid loss control polymer can be acid soluble. Zinc salts in the form of zinc bromide alone or in a mixture of zinc bromide and calcium bromide are added to increase the density of the brine solution. The viscosifying polymer has pendant amide and sulfonic acid or sulfonate groups. Alternatively or additionally, the viscosifying polymer comprises a polysaccharide. The fluid loss control polymer can comprise a cross-linked, cationic or amphoteric starch. Soluble solids are dispersed in the brine.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition for and a method of using the composition to reduce the loss of liquid from aqueous compositions employed while rotary drilling. The composition of this invention comprises a polymeric material selected from homopolymers, random copolymers and random terpolymers, each of which includes a vinylamide morpholine derivative in the recipe for making the polymeric material.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that viscosification agents selected from sulfonated and neutralized sulfonated ionomers can be readily incorporated into oil-based drilling muds in the form of an oil soluble concentrate containing the polymer. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an additive concentrate for oil-based drilling muds comprising a drilling oil, especially a low toxicity oil, and from about 5 gm to about 20 gm of sulfonated or neutralized sulfonated polymer per 100 gm of oil. Indeed, oil solutions obtained from the sulfonated and neutralized sulfonated polymers used as viscosification agents are readily incorporated into drilling mud formulations.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved water based drilling fluid containing a controlled cross-linked polymeric fluid loss control agent. The novel polymeric fluid loss control agent of this invention exhibits improved thermal stability and other enhanced drilling fluid additive properties. The controlled cross-linking of the polymer of this invention results from the addition of specific amounts and types of cross-linking agents.

Abstract: This invention relates to an earth stabilization fluid and to a method for using such an earth stabilization fluid. This invention uses a continuous phase that has been added to a borehole and a polymer material that forms gel masses having desired functional properties when added to the continuous phase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing and earth stabilization fluid, a method for using such an earth stabilization fluid and to the earth stabilization fluid itself. This invention uses a continuous phase that has been added to a borehole and a polymer material that forms gel masses having desired functional properties when added to the continuous phase.

Abstract: This invention provides a drilling fluid containing additives composed of copolymers which are obtainable by an industrially favorable process and superior in heat-resisting property. Even though the additives are used in a relatively small amount, such an amount sufficiently prevents changes in the properties of drilling fluid due to various kinds of hard water components being contained in underground water or cement as well as due to sea water, and the additives are able to display the properties of drilling fluid constantly regardless of presence or absence of salts.Drilling fluid additives of the present invention are composed of a water-soluble copolymer (A) having an average molecular weight of 1,000-50,000. The water soluble copolymer (A) is composed of 40-99.5 mole percent of an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer (I), as shown in the following general formula (I), and 0.5-60 mole percent of an unsaturated (meth)allylether monomer (II), as shown in the general formula (II).

Abstract: A dispersant for drilling fluids, spacer fluids, completion fluids, cement slurries and mixtures of drilling fluids and cement slurries used for drilling and cementing subterranean wells.

Abstract: A method of thickening, stabilizing, controlling mobility, or enhancing water retention in aqueous media and electrolyte-containing aqueous media employs neutrally-charged polyamphoteric graft copolymers of polysaccharides with zwitterionic monomers or cationic/anionic monomer pairs. These polyampholytes are characterized by their unique resistance to loss of intrinsic viscosity in the presence of electrolytes. These polyampholytes may be prepared by an inverse emulsion method of graft copolymerization. One such electrolyte-tolerant polyampholyte is a novel composition prepared by graft copolymerization of guar gum.

Abstract: A non-polluting dispersing agent for drilling fluids based on soft water or salt water.A dispersing agent for aqueous drilling fluids, optionally saline, belonging to the group of polymers and/or copolymers containing acid functions which is characterized in that, to ensure that these fluids retain their rheological characteristics, even under the extreme temperature and pressure conditions prevailing in deep bore holes, said dispersing agent is a salt of said polymers and/or copolymers of which the salifying cation corresponds to a metal having a Pauling electronegativity at least equal to 0.95 and preferably greater than 1.

Abstract: A water soluble polymer which is characterized by the formula: ##STR1## wherein x is 50 mole percent or 662/3 mole percent or 75 mole percent and y+z is 50 mole percent, when x is 50 mole percent, y+z is 331/3 mole percent, when x is 662/3 mole percent, and y+z is 25 mole percent, when x is 75 mole percent, wherein the molar ratio of y to z is about 100:1 to 1:100, and M.sup.+ is hydrogen or a metal cation selected from the group consisting of lead, aluminum, iron and Groups IA, IIA, IB and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements and the level of sulfonation based upon the styrene monomer is about 75 to about 100 mole percent, and R is an alkyl group having about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms.