Abstract: A method of treating a well including injecting a thermally stable, substantially water-free well-treating fluid into the well, wherein the well-treating fluid comprises a polymer, a glycol compound, and a salt is disclosed. In another embodiment, a thermally stable, substantially water-free well fluid including a polymer, a diol compound, and a salt is disclosed.

Abstract: A composition for sealing porous subterranean formations comprises a mixture of a water-swellable clay and a water insoluble, water absorbent, water-swellable polymer, wherein the mixture is coated with a material that is resistant to penetration by water. The water penetration resistant material helps the delay the onset of swelling of the clay and polymer until it reaches the formations intended for sealing. Mixing the clay with the water-swellable polymer prior to coating assists in coating of the water-swellable polymer with the water penetration resistant material. The coated mixture can be suspended in an aqueous liquid, and then pumped into a subterranean cavity to seal porous formations therein.

Abstract: A high temperature viscosifying and fluid loss controlling additive for use in well cements, well cement compositions including the additive and methods of using the compositions are provided. The well cement compositions of this invention are comprised of a hydraulic cement, water and a viscosifying and fluid loss controlling additive comprising a mixture of a polymer comprised of at least one monomer which is calcium tolerant, anionic and disperses basic cement slurries, at least one monomer which hydrolyzes in basic cement slurries to generate anionic carboxylate groups that bind with calcium and viscosify the slurries and at least one monomer which generates non-ionic pendant groups on the polymer upon hydrolyzing in basic cement slurries to prevent polymer precipitation and a homopolymer of a monomer which hydrolyzes in basic cement slurries to generate anionic carboxylate groups that bind with calcium, viscosify the slurries and prevent settling in the slurries.

Abstract: A well fracturing fluid comprising one or more anionic viscoelastic surfactants and one or more polymers is described. The fluids can contain an aqueous or non-aqueous fluid and/or buffer for adjusting the pH of the fracturing fluid. The well service fluid can used as a fracturing fluid in order to control water production from a well, while simultaneously increasing the oil production from the well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to biodegradable chemical compositions wherein core substrates, particularly oil well chemicals, are adsorbed onto particulate starch, particularly granular starch, providing a stable, controlled release formulation suitable for use in oil field applications. The invention further relates to the process of preparing obtaining these compositions.

Abstract: A shale-stabilizing additive is described which comprises a copolymer of an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon and an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, carbocylic acid salt or carboxylic acid anhydride with alkylene oxide based side chains. The additive can be used for water-based service fluids (WBM) to facilitate the drilling or completion process in shales or clayey formations.

Abstract: Improved methods of forming fractures containing resilient proppant particle packs which prevent the production of sand and fines with produced fluids and prevent proppant flow-back in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore are provided. As the fractures are formed, a liquid hardenable resin component is mixed with a liquid hardening agent component and a liquid rubber component to form a hardenable resin composition. The hardenable resin composition is coated onto dry proppant particles which are suspended in the fracturing fluid and placed in the fractures. The hardenable resin composition on the resin composition coated proppant particles is allowed to harden and consolidate the proppant particles into high strength resilient permeable packs.

Abstract: Methods of cementing in wellbores using cement compositions having elasticity or high compressive strength and low permeability are provided. The cement compositions are basically comprised of particulate acid degradable glass, water, at least one water soluble polymerizable alkenoic acid monomer and a water soluble free-radical initiator.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of fracturing, including the provision and use of a fracturing fluid suspension containing an effective amount of a solid particulate breaker material having delayed breaking or degradation characteristics, additionally including an amount of durable fibers and/or platelets sufficient to enhance wellbore solids, such as proppant, transport. In a preferred aspect, solid particulate matter, which comprises or is composed of a specified organic polymeric compound or composition having an average molecular weight of at least 10,000, or a mixture of such compounds or compositions, and which solid organic polymeric matter reacts or decomposes, as described, is combined in a fracturing fluid with or containing a specified gellant and proppant, to form a fracturing fluid suspension, and the suspension formed is pumped downwell and deposited as a gelled suspension in the subterranean formation, generally under fracturing conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. One composition of the invention is comprised of water, an aqueous rubber latex, an organophilic clay, sodium carbonate, an epoxy resin and a hardening agent for said epoxy resin.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to the use of water-soluble polymers comprising structural elements of the formula 1

Abstract: The present invention provides water based compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of water, an aqueous rubber latex, an organophillic clay and sodium carbonate.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations for the purpose of selectively reducing excessive production of aqueous fluids. The compositions include copolymers which may be added to an aqueous fluid to form a water control treatment fluid. The copolymers may include copolymers having a hydrophillic monomeric unit, a first anchoring monomeric unit and a filler monomeric unit, with the first anchoring monomeric unit being based on N-vinylformamide. Additional anchoring monomeric units may also optionally be present. The copolymers may be employed in well treatment fluids introduced into production wells or injection wells. The copolymers may also be utilized in conjunction with stimulation treatments and with introduction of other well treatment fluids.

Abstract: An aqueous external dispersion comprising a wax dispersant and an organic crystal modifier composition dispersed through a continuous water phase is useful as a crystal modifier for petroleum or a petroleum-derived liquid. The dispersant comprises a non-ionic surfactant and is present in the dispersion in an amount sufficient to impart at least meta-stability to the dispersion. The dispersion has a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of less than about 50,000 centipoise.

Abstract: Simplified drilling fluids (and other well bore fluids) contain a non-aqueous-base fluid and a viscosifying/fluid loss agent that meets certain performance criteria.

Abstract: Oil degradable encapsulated breaker particles are used in fracturing operations to break hydro-carbon liquid gelled with salts of alkyl phosphate esters. The preferred breaker chemical is particulate urea coated with sulfonated EPDM.

Abstract: An aqueous external dispersion comprising a wax dispersant and an organic crystal modifier composition dispersed through a continuous water phase is useful as a crystal modifier for petroleum or a petroleum-derived liquid. The dispersant comprises a non-ionic surfactant and is present in the dispersion in an amount sufficient to impart at least meta-stability to the dispersion. The dispersion has a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of less than about 50,000 centipoise.

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: According to the present invention, there is provided a coated breaker chemical in which the coating comprises a blend of a neutralized sulfonated ionomer and asphalt. Preferably, the coating contains from about 1 to 20 wt. % asphalt and from 99 to 80 wt. % of the neutralized sulfonated ionomer. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coating contains about 7 wt. % asphalt and about 93 wt. % of the neutralized sulfonated ionomer.

Abstract: A stable, non-aqueous liquid suspension of delayed boron cross-linkers comprises an anhydrous boron compound or a sparingly soluble borate suspended in a mixture of mineral spirits (commonly termed as naphtha) and a resin. Anhydrous boron compounds suitable for suspension include, but are not limited to, anhydrous borax, anhydrous boric acid, or a mixture of both the anhydrous borax and anhydrous boric acid. Sparingly soluble borates suitable for suspension include, but are not limited to, alkaline earth metal borates, alkali metal borates, or a mixture thereof. The mixture between the mineral spirits and resin produces a mineral spirits-resin solution. Alternatively, the mineral spirits may be replaced with a suitable oil which forms an oil-resin solution when mixed with the resin. The oil-resin solution suspends the anhydrous boron compound or the sparingly soluble borate to produce a stable, non-aqueous liquid suspension of delayed boron cross-linkers.

Abstract: A composition of matter for matrix conformance formed from an aqueous solution of an alginate polysaccharide and a method of forming an alginate polysaccharide gel. A Group IIA cation, Fe.sup.2+, Fe.sup.3+, Al.sup.3+, Mn.sup.2 +, Zn.sup.2+, a dialdehyde, or a diamine may be used to crosslink the resulting alginate gel. The gel may also comprise a modifier, such as a polyvinyl alcohol, a polycarboxylic acid, or a polyacrylamide. The rate and extent of crosslinking are controlled by varying the alginate molecular weight, the alginate concentration, or the type and concentration of crosslinker, or by adding a sequestering agent such as EDTA or citrate.

Abstract: A method of gelling a guar or derivatized guar polymer solution utilized to perform a hydraulic fracturing operation includes the step of adjusting the pH of the guar or derivatized guar polymer solution to between about 8.5 and 12.5. After adjusting the pH, an anhydrous boron compound or a sparingly soluble borate suspended in a mineral spirits-resin solution or an oil-resin solution is added to the guar or derivatized guar polymer solution. The guar or derivatized guar polymer solution and the anhydrous boron compound or the sparingly soluble borate solution suspended in the mineral spirits-resin solution or the oil-resin solution is then pumped into a subterranean formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.

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: A gelable composition and process are disclosed that delay the gelation and increase the gel strength of gelled water soluble acrylamide-containing polymers contains: (1) a water dispersible first crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of p-aminosalicylic acid, furfuryl alcohol, RArOC(O)R' and HOArC(O)OR" wherein Ar represents a phenyl group which can be substituted or non-substituted; R is a hydrogen or a carboxylic group; R' is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; R" is a hydrogen, a phenyl group, or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; and when R is a carboxylic group, R and C(O)OR" can be at ortho, meta, or para position with respect to the OC(O)R' group and the OH group, respectively; (2) a water dispersible second crosslinking compound selected from the group consisting of aldehydes and aldehyde-generating compounds; (3) a water soluble acrylamide-containing polymer; and (4) water.

Abstract: Water-soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore.Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.

Abstract: Oil and gas wells and injection wells are cleaned of oil-based drilling muds, pipe thread compounds, other oil contaminants, cement and contaminants in injection water by a composition comprising fresh water or seawater, one-half to ten percent concentration of an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant and one to ten percent of a caustic agent such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.