Abstract: The need for an acidic liquid hard surface cleaning composition which provides improved removal of grease residues, while still being effective at removing limes-scale, is met by formulating an acidic liquid hard surface cleaning composition with an alkyl pyrrolidone, and additional nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of: alkoxylated nonionic surfactant, alkyl polyglucoside, and mixtures thereof, while limiting the amount of anionic surfactant present.

Abstract: A highly pure 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile (bromoxynil) has been prepared in high yield from 4-hydroxybenzonitrile using eco-friendly brominating reagent comprising of 2:1 mole ratio of bromide to bromate salts in aqueous acidic medium without any catalyst under ambient conditions with no work up procedure. The product 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile was obtained in 91-99% yield with melting point 189-191° C. and more than 99% purity by gas chromatographic analysis without any purification.

Abstract: Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities reduced (gels broken) by the direct or indirect action of an internal breaker composition that contains at least one mineral oil, at least one polyalphaolefin oil, at least one saturated fatty acid and/or at least one unsaturated fatty acid. The internal breaker may initially be dispersed oil droplets in an internal, discontinuous phase of the fluid. In one non-limiting embodiment, the internal breaker, e.g. mineral oil, is added to the fluid after it has been substantially gelled. An oil-soluble surfactant is present to enhance or accelerate the reduction of viscosity of the gelled aqueous fluid.

Abstract: A composition that includes a product resulting from a condensation reaction of quebracho with at least one organophilic species that includes a reactive amine is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of isolating a selected reservoir zone in a subterranean reservoir comprising at least the step of squeezing a treatment fluid into the selected reservoir zone, the treatment fluid comprising: a viscosifying agent; a fluid loss control agent; and a particulate material. The invention further provides a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid; a viscosifying agent; at least 20 kg/m3 of a fluid loss control agent; and a particulate material.

Abstract: The current application discloses methods and systems for preparing a wellbore treatment fluid precursor consolidated as one or more solid bodies; delivering the solid bodies to a logistics facility; and preparing a wellbore treatment fluid from the solid bodies. In some embodiments, the wellbore treatment fluid is a fracturing fluid for conducting a hydraulic fracturing operation on a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore.

Abstract: A composition that includes a product resulting from a condensation reaction of quebracho with at least one organophilic species that includes a reactive amine is disclosed.

Abstract: Aqueous fluids comprising polysaccharide, dissolved salt, and borate anions. The fluids are useful, for example, as a drilling fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides settable compositions and methods of using settable compositions that comprise a hydraulic cement; a partially calcined kiln feed comprising SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, SO3, Na2O, and K2O; metakaolin; and water. The location to be cemented may be above ground or in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A well servicing fluid for reducing polymer degradation is disclosed. The well servicing fluid is formulated with components comprising: at least one free radical scavenger, with the proviso that the free radical scavenger is not erythorbate, lignin or lignin derivatives; at least one polymer and an aqueous based solvent. Methods for servicing a well employing well servicing fluids of the present disclosure are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides laccases, polynucleotides encoding these enzymes, the methods of making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid comprising a base fluid and a particulate bridging agent comprised of a sparingly water-soluble material selected from the group consisting of melamine (2,4,5-triamino-1,3,5-triazine), lithium carbonate, lithium phosphate (Li3PO4), and magnesium sulfite.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to aqueous based wellbore fluids for preventing wellbore fluid loss downhole containing at least one copolymer formed from at least one natural polymer monomer and at least one latex monomer, and an aqueous base fluid.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide for modified lignins and other compositions that may be useful as surfactants. These compositions have particular utility for energy-related applications. In embodiments, they may be useful for enhanced oil recovery. In embodiments, they may be useful for extracting bitumen from oil sands. In embodiments, they may be useful for environmental remediation.

Abstract: Process for producing cellulose beads or lignocellulose beads, wherein cellulose or lignocellulose is dissolved in a solvent which comprises more than 50% by weight of the symmetrical imidazolium compound of the formula I below where R1 and R3 are each an identical organic radical having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, R2, R4 and R5 are each an H atom, X is an anion and n is 1, 2 or 3, and cellulose beads or lignocellulose beads are produced from the solution obtained, and also the use of the beads obtained for petroleum or natural gas recovery.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions comprise water, a cement, and a fluid loss control additive, the fluid loss control additive comprising a graft copolymer. The graft copolymer comprises a backbone and at least four grafted monomers selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acrylamide, acrylic acid, vinylphosphonic acid, diallyldimethylammonium chloride, and salts thereof. The backbone of the graft copolymer comprises a humic acid salt. Methods of cementing using exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities reduced (gels broken) by the direct or indirect action of an internal breaker composition that contains at least one mineral oil, at least one polyalphaolefin oil, at least one saturated fatty acid and/or at least one unsaturated fatty acid. The internal breaker may initially be dispersed oil droplets in an internal, discontinuous phase of the fluid. In one non-limiting embodiment, the internal breaker, e.g. mineral oil, is added to the fluid after it has been substantially gelled. An oil-soluble surfactant is present to enhance or accelerate the reduction of viscosity of the gelled aqueous fluid.

Abstract: A method of treating a formation that includes emplacing an oxidizing breaker fluid into a region of the formation occupied by a gel; and allowing sufficient time for the oxidizing breaker fluid to degrade the gel is disclosed.

Abstract: A completion and workover fluid composition comprising, water and at least one rheology modifier and/or fluid loss control agent, and at least one other ingredient selected from the group consisting of inorganic salts, shale inhibitors, corrosion inhibitor, biocide, defoamers and finely divided solids particles (e.g., bentonite, attapulgite, sepiolite, calcium carbonate, etc.), depending upon the desired attributes, wherein the rheology modifier and/or the fluid loss control agent is an ethoxylated raw cotton linters or a modified ethoxylated raw cotton linters. The ethoxylated raw cotton linters provides comparable or better rheology and viscosity properties compared to high molecular weight commercial HECs made from purified cotton linters. These ethoxylated raw cotton linters derivatives are suitable for applications in oil-well servicing fluids, particularly to enhance functional properties of completion and workover fluids used during oil-well drilling operations.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions comprise water, a cement, and a fluid loss control additive, the fluid loss control additive comprising a graft copolymer. The graft copolymer comprises a backbone and at least four grafted monomers selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, acrylamide, acrylic acid, vinylphosphonic acid, diallyldimethylammonium chloride, and salts thereof. The backbone of the graft copolymer comprises a humic acid salt. Methods of cementing using exemplary embodiments of the cement compositions are also provided.

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: The systems and methods described herein provide for modified lignins and other compositions that may be useful as surfactants. These compositions have particular utility for energy-related applications. In embodiments, they may be useful for enhanced oil recovery. In embodiments, they may be useful for extracting bitumen from oil sands. In embodiments, they may be useful for environmental remediation.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluid loss control additive for oleaginous liquids and oleaginous wellbore fluids containing the additive. The additive is the reaction product of a tannin compound, a polyamidoamine, a commercial lecithin, and an acid. The preferred tannins are derived from quebracho and wattle trees. The preferred acid is sulfuric acid. The preferred polyamidoamine is a long-chain fatty alkyl partial amide which is the reaction product of a polyalkylenepolyamine and a fatty acid containing from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms, most preferably tall oil fatty acids, wherein at least one of the amino groups of the polyalkylenepolyamine is not amidated. The commercial lecithin contains from about 30% to about 50% of the vegetable oil from which the lecithin is concentrated, preferably soybean oil, and is present in the additive in an amount from about 1% to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the tannin.

Abstract: A drilling fluid or mud additive having several components, including leonardite (humic acid); potassium acetate; partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PHPA); polyanionic cellulose polymer (PAC); sulfonated asphalt; sulfoalkylated tannin; polystyrene maleic anhydride copolymer; micronized cellulose fiber; and calcium carbonate. These components are preferably premixed in a dry formulation as a powder or as pellets, and shipped to the site in bags or bulk tanks. This offers substantial advantages over the prior art in that the drilling mud of the present invention may be formed simply by adding the dry mix to a predetermined amount of water, and is thus much easier to make than the prior art wet mix drilling fluids, which typically require precise ratios of several different powders and liquids to be mixed together. Hydration buffers help keep the powder or pellets dry and flowable.

Abstract: A circulation loss combination for water-based drilling fluid system(s) comprising: a first amount of alkali metal silicate; a second amount of water insoluble particulate; and, a quantity of water soluble activating agent effective to reduce the pH of the water-based drilling fluid system to a value sufficiently low to form an effective circulation loss structure at a desired period of time after addition to the water-based drilling fluid system.

Abstract: Well-working fluid compositions containing certain processed inorganic, oil and water wettable ground elastomeric crumb rubber materials to decrease the seepage loss of various fluids to subterranean formations in which these well working fluids are required and utilized are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of reducing the seepage and whole mud loss of these well working fluids utilizing such ground elastomeric crumb rubber materials.

Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of oil comprises injecting into an oil-containing formation an aqueous surfactant system having at least (1) a blend containing an unmodified Kraft lignin, an oil-soluble amine and a water-soluble sulfonate, and (2) water; driving the surfactant system through the formation and producing the oil mobilized by the surfactant system. A surfactant composition useful for enhanced oil recovery methods is also provided having at least an unmodified Kraft lignin, an oil-soluble amine and a water-soluble sulfonate.

Abstract: A modular drilling mud system is described in terms of five different modules. A first module contains caustic, a natural wax and a natural thinner. A second module contains components of the first module and an alkali metal aluminate prepared by reacting the first module with aluminum metal. A third module contains the components of the first module and an alkali metal phosphate and/or alkali metal silicate. A fourth module contains the components of the first module, a saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid source, a surfactant, and a preservative. The fifth module contains a combination of the first, third and fourth modules. The third, fourth and fifth modules can be used to effect various degrees of thinning and lubrication, and the second module can be used alone or in combination with another module to thicken the drilling mud.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibiting composition include the use of certain plant derived catechol complexes in aqueous based compositions, such as process water, and other aqueous and non-aqueous solvent based coating compositions. The compositions have corrosion inhibiting and/or biocide activity. The compositions find particular usefulness as coatings, including paints, on iron and aluminum metal surfaces.

Abstract: A blended additive composition, which is useful for thinning aqueous drilling fluids, is disclosed. The composition includes a first component selected from the group including: a modified tannin, a modified lignite and sodium lignosulfonate; a second component being a polymer prepared from acrylic acid; and a third component being a metal compound selected from the group of metals including iron, tin, chromium, manganese, titanium, aluminum and zinc.