Abstract: The invention relates to a process for facilitating the disposal of flowable and pumpable working fluids based on emulsifiers containing W/O invert emulsions--more particularly corresponding auxiliaries of the type used in geological exploration, such as oil-based w/o invert drilling muds--and for the simplified cleaning of solid surfaces soiled therewith, if desired using flowable spraying aids, the process being characterized in that, by selecting and adapting the emulsifiers/emulsifier systems to the oil phase of the invert emulsion, temperature-controlled phase inversion is achieved at temperatures below the in-use temperatures of the w/o invert emulsions, but above the freezing point of the aqueous phase and in that disposal and cleaning are carried out at temperatures in and/or below the phase inversion temperature range.

Abstract: A gel-breaking/gel-inhibiting composition containing at least one carboxylic acid or salt thereof is dispersed in a hydrophobic carrier fluid to break down a cross-linked polymer gel or inhibit the gelation of a polymer gel used in plugging in permeable subterranean formations containing oil-bearing zones and water-bearing zones. The composition may be used to selectively restore permeability to oil-bearing zones in formations containing a cross-linked polymer gel or to inhibit gelation in an oil-bearing zone by injection into the oil-bearing zone prior to or after treatment of the formation containing the oil-bearing zone with an aqueous polymer solution.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a wellbore plugged with deposits of heavy hydrocarbons and finely-divided inorganic solids by circulating a surfactant composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol through the wellbore with a coiled tubing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for suppressing the formation of hydrates during drilling operations under conditions that are conducive to hydrate formation comprising using a water based fluid selected from the group consisting of a drilling, a drill-in, and a completion fluid, wherein said water based fluid comprises as an integral component a hydrate suppressing amount of a water-soluble organic compound having a molecular weight below about 800 and said fluid has effective rheology and fluid loss control properties.

Abstract: The present Invention relates to hydrocarbon well stimulation, and more particularly to methods and compositions to remove (or more generally to transfer) fluid introduced into a subsurface fracture, in which the methods involve creating then exploiting chemical potential gradients at the fracture face to induce fluid flow from the fracture into the formation; the methods and compositions involve creating, or relying upon an intrisic or previously created, a selectively permeable membrane that is permeable to water but that does not allow solutes to pass through.

Abstract: The crosslinking of galactomannan gum fracturing fluids by borate ion is delayed for high temperature applications by completing boron in a basic solution with an organic polyol. Low pumping friction pressures are achieved by the delay in the crosslinking with the boron being available at high temperatures to add high temperature stability to the fracturing fluid at temperatures ranging upto about 300.degree. F.

Abstract: Viscoelastic surfactant fluids for fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by a wellbore. The surfactant fluids are comprised of an aqueous medium; an effective amount of an inorganic water soluble salt; and an effective amount of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: i) anionic surfactants; ii) nonionic surfactants; and iii) hydrotropic surfactants. The surfactant compositions can be further stabilized and the viscosity increased by the addition of one or more hydrophobic organic alcohols. This invention also relates to a method for fracturing subterranean formations using said viscoelastic surfactant fluids.

Abstract: An improved concentrated surfactant formulation and process for the recovery of residual oil from subterranean petroleum reservoirs, and more particularly an improved alkali surfactant flooding process which results in ultra-low interfacial tensions between the injected material and the residual oil, wherein the concentrated surfactant formulation is supplied at a concentration above, at, or, below its CMC, also providing in situ formation of surface active material formed from the reaction of naturally occurring organic acidic components with the injected alkali material which serves to increase the efficiency of oil recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to flowable and pumpable multicomponent mixtures based on a multiphase mixture of water and oil containing emulsifiers and, if desired, other soluble, emulsifiable and/or dispersible auxiliaries for their use in exploration by drilling and/or for the further treatment of the wells thus drilled. The invention is characterized by the use of emulsifiers or emulsifier systems which, in the particular multicomponent mixture in question, lead to temperature-controlled phase inversion at a phase inversion temperature (PIT) in a temperature range of which the upper limit is so far below the working temperature of the multicomponent mixture in geological exploration that the water-based part of the multicomponent mixture is present as a disperse (invert) phase in the continuous oil phase (w/o invert emulsion) while the lower limit of this temperature range enables the multicomponent mixture to be converted into an o/w emulsion with a continuous aqueous phase.

Abstract: A method and composition for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided inorganic particulate matter from wellbore and flowline surfaces using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol.

Abstract: Rheologically modified compositions, and rheologically modified fluid compositions prepared therefrom, containing reticulated bacterial cellulose in a polyol base fluid, are disclosed. The amount of reticulated bacterial cellulose present in the composition is an amount effective to viscosify the polyol base fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of cleaning up a producing interval of a well bore drilled using a synthetic oil-water emulsion drill-in fluid. The methods basically comprise contacting filter cake and drill-in fluid on the walls of the well bore with three treatment fluids in three stages, the first and second treatment fluids being comprised of water, a filter cake dissolving acid, a mutual solvent and an emulsion penetrating agent. The third treatment fluid is comprised of water, a filter cake dissolving acid and a water wetting surfactant.

Abstract: A drilling fluid additive for use during drilling and excavating applications, the additive comprises a mixture of an oil, an ester alcohol, nonionic surfactant and polypropylene glycol; and a method for manufacturing a drilling fluid additive comprising the step of admixing an oil, an ester alcohol, a nonionic surfactant, and a polypropylene glycol.

Abstract: A method of reducing formation damage when drilling for oil and gas. Firstly, determining initial water, hydrocarbon and gas saturation in the porous formation under consideration. Secondly, determining a preferential wettability of the porous formation. Thirdly, determining potential damaging effects due to aqueous phase trapping as a result of increasing water saturation in the porous formation. Fourthly, determining an alcohol type and concentration that will reduce severity of aqueous phase trapping. Fifthly, incorporating the alcohol type and concentration into a drilling fluid. The alcohol concentration will not less than 1% of the volume of the drilling fluid. Sixthly, pumping the drilling fluid containing the alcohol down a drilling string to a drill bit during drilling operations. The described method reduces invasive damage caused by drilling fluid entering the formation.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the delay time of aqueous borate-crosslinked polysaccharide-based fluids for hydraulic fracturing and related applications which allows on-the-fly control of the delay time without comprising overall fluid integrity. Without having to modify the total boron content nor pH of the fracturing fluid, the delay time is controlled by adding a polyol to the fracturing fluid at a first rate, determining the resulting delay time and then adjusting the rate of the polyol addition to the fracturing fluid until the desired delay time is achieved.

Abstract: A method and composition for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided drilling fluid solids from a wellbore using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol by injecting the composition into the wellbore, maintaining the composition in the wellbore for a selected time and thereafter producing the composition from the wellbore.

Abstract: Corrosion is inhibited in hydrochloric acid solutions used to acidize wells, by adding to the solutions a corrosion inhibiting composition comprising cinnamaldehyde or a substituted cinnamaldehyde together with a reaction product of a C.sub.3-6 ketone such as acetophenone, thiourea or a related compound, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: A method of formulating a zirconium lactate compound is accomplished by combining in solution lactic acid or a lactate salt with zirconium carbonate. The reacting solution forms zirconium lactate and carbon dioxide which is evolved as a gas from the solution. This eliminates the need to filter or wash the zirconium lactate in order to remove undesirable by-products. The zirconium lactate can be used as a crosslinking agent for crosslinking aqueous polymer gels used in such things as fracturing fluids for fracturing subterranean formations of oil and gas wells.

Abstract: The present invention provides microemulsion surfactant additives for use in aqueous well treating fluids to prevent the formation of stable emulsions and sludge when the aqueous treating fluids contact hydrocarbons. The additives are basically comprised of a solvent, a co-solvent, water, an aqueous liquid-hydrocarbon liquid de-emulsifying surfactant and a liquid hydrocarbon antisludging surfactant. Aqueous compositions including the additives and methods of treating subterranean formations or zones containing hydrocarbons using the compositions are also provided.

Abstract: An oil-in-water emulsion composition is disclosed which comprises a mixture of brine and;(A) at least one natural oil or synthetic triglyceride of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently saturated or unsaturated aliphatic groups that contain from about 7 to about 23 carbon atoms;(B) at least one alcohol, R.sup.4 OH wherein R.sup.4 is an aliphatic group containing from 1 up to about 18 carbon atoms;(C) at least one emulsifier; and(D) at least one sulfurized composition wherein (B), (C) and (D) are soluble and reside within (A).

Abstract: This invention relates to anionic compositions, containing an alkyl aryl sulfonic acid or salt thereof, a nonethoxylated glycol and an acetylenic alcohol in an alkyl alcohol solvent, that have proved effective for controlling sludge and emulsion formation during acid stimulation and treatment of hydrocarbon wells.

Abstract: A composition, especially suitable for use as a mud sweep and a spacer. The composition includes a petroleum-based hydrocarbon, a biopolymer, a thickening agent, a surfactant and potassium chloride. Other optional ingredients in embodiments of the present invention include a lower alkanol, sodium salts and aluminum stearate.

Abstract: The crosslinking of galactomannan gum fracturing fluids by borate ion is delayed for high-temperature applications by encapsulating the boron with a polymer coating. The crosslink-delay time is further adjusted by varying the concentration of an organic polyol. The polyol also acts as a stabilizer for the crosslinked fluid at elevated temperatures. Low pumping friction pressures are achieved by the delay in the crosslinking with the boron available at high temperatures to add high temperature stability to the fracturing fluid at temperatures ranging up to about 350.degree. F.

Abstract: A hydrochloric acid acidizing composition for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore to increase the production of desired materials (e.g., hydrocarbons) therefrom that includes a corrosion inhibitor for protecting both ferrous based alloy surfaces (e.g., low alloy steel surfaces) and titanium based alloy surfaces associated with the treatment from corrosion by the acid. The corrosion inhibitor includes an effective amount of a first inhibitor component for inhibiting corrosion of ferrous based alloys, the first inhibitor component including at least one chemical reducing compound, and an effective amount of a second inhibitor component for inhibiting corrosion of titanium based alloys, the second inhibitor component including at least one source of molybdate ions such as sodium molybdate. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore to increase the production of desired materials therefrom is also provided.