Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090082229 | Process for Drying Boron-Containing Minerals and Products Thereof - Processes for the rapid and efficient drying of boron-containing compounds, in particular boron-containing minerals and ores, are described, as well as the products which result from such processes. The process comprises the steps of providing a boron-containing material; introducing the boron-containing material into a pre-heated furnace; heating the boron-containing material in the furnace at a temperature between about 800° F. and 1000° F.; retaining the boron-containing material within the furnace for a time ranging from about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes; and removing the boron-containing material from the furnace and allowing it to cool to ambient temperature. Optionally, the process may also comprise one or more steps of grinding and/or sizing the boron-containing material to a specific particle size prior to the introduction of the material to a furnace. The boron-containing compounds that can be processed in this manner include both naturally-occurring and/or synthetic boron-containing materials, in particular boron-containing minerals and ores such as colemanite, ulexite, probertite, kernite, and mixtures thereof. | 03-26-2009 |
20100048429 | Methods, Systems, and Compositions for the Controlled Crosslinking of Well Servicing Fluids - Treating fluid compositions for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations from subterranean formations are described, as well as methods for their preparation and use. In particular, treating fluid compositions are described which comprise a liquid, a crosslinkable organic polymer material that is at least partially soluble in the liquid, a crosslinking agent that is capable of increasing the viscosity of the treating fluid by crosslinking the organic polymer material in the liquid, and a crosslinking modifier additive which can delay or accelerate the crosslinking of the treating fluid composition. Such compositions may be used in a variety of hydrocarbon recovery operations including fracturing operations, drilling operations, gravel packing operations, water control operations, and the like. | 02-25-2010 |
20110009298 | Ultra High Viscosity Pill and Methods for Use with An Oil-Based Drilling System - A fluid pressure transmission pill (FPTP) having an ultra-high viscosity for use in association with hydrocarbon drilling and exploration operations, particularly, managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations, is described. The ultra-high viscosity pill is a weighted pill composition that includes a hydrocarbon fluid, a thixotropic viscosifying agent, one or more activators, an emulsifier/wetting agent, a fluid loss control additive, and a weighting material. In accordance with selected aspects of the described fluid pressure transmission pill, the ratio of the amount of the thixotropic viscosifying agent to the activator is a ratio of about 7:1, and the weighting material is a barium-containing solid-phase material. Also described are methods of use of such FPTP products in subterranean operations, such as well killing operations during managed pressure drilling. | 01-13-2011 |
20120283148 | Methods and Compositions for Hydrocarbon-Based Crosslinking Additives with Non-Detectable BTEX Levels - Disclosed is a hydrocarbon-based concentrate composition for crosslinking polysaccharide polymers in an aqueous-based fluid, such as a fracturing fluid, wherein the hydrocarbon-based composition has no or substantially no detectable levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and/or m-, o-, or p-xylenes (BTEX). Preferred polysaccharide polymers are galactomannan gums or derivatives thereof. The concentrate comprises an oleaginous solution, such as a hydrocarbon distillate, a crosslinking agent for crosslinking the polysaccharide polymer, preferably a sparingly soluble alkali metal or alkali metal alkaline earth metal borate, and a stabilizing/suspension agent, preferably a clay mineral selected from the group consisting of smectite clays. The concentrate may, optionally, contain a deflocculant and/or an anti-syneresis additive. | 11-08-2012 |
20130130942 | Dissipative Surfactant Aqueous-Based Drilling System for Use in Hydrocarbon Recovery Operations from Heavy Oil and Tar Sands - A water-based drilling fluid which includes an aqueous fluid and a water-soluble dissipative surfactant composition is described, wherein the dissipative surfactant composition includes at least one fatty acid or ester derivative of a plant or vegetable oil. Also described are methods of using such aqueous-based drilling fluids including the dissipative surfactant composition as described in hydrocarbon recovery operations associated with oil/tar sand, where such fluids act to increase the dispersant qualities of hydrocarbons within the oil/tar sand, and where such fluid exhibit a reduced coefficient of friction. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130944 | Ultra High Viscosity Pill and Methods for Use with an Oil-Based Drilling System - A fluid pressure transmission pill (FPTP) having an ultra-high viscosity for use in association with hydrocarbon drilling and exploration operations, particularly, managed pressure drilling (MPD) operations, is described. The ultra-high viscosity pill is a weighted pill composition that includes a hydrocarbon fluid, a thixotropic viscosifying agent, one or more activators, an emulsifier/wetting agent, a fluid loss control additive, and a weighting material. In accordance with selected aspects of the described fluid pressure transmission pill, the ratio of the amount of the thixotropic viscosifying agent to the activator is a ratio of about 7:1, and the weighting material is a barium-containing solid-phase material. Also described are methods of use of such FPTP products in subterranean operations, such as well killing operations during managed pressure drilling. | 05-23-2013 |
20130206416 | Earth Metal Peroxide Fluidized Compositions - Disclosed is an alkaline earth metal peroxide concentrate, or fluidized suspension, for addition to aqueous hydraulic fracturing fluids to efficiently decrease the viscosity of the hydrated, hydrophilic polysaccharide polymer in the system. The concentrate comprises a hydrophobic, water insoluble liquid, an organophilic clay suspension agent, a polar activator, a sparingly-soluble alkaline earth metal peroxide, and an anionic surfactant. Advantageously, these concentrations, or suspensions, exhibit high flash points, making them easier to transport using commercial transportation means. | 08-15-2013 |
20130213657 | Hybrid Aqueous-Based Suspensions for Hydraulic Fracturing Operations - Disclosed are aqueous-based compositions and methods for treating a subterranean formation for inhibiting formation damage after the treatment. Compositions include an aqueous-based fluid, gelling agents, sparingly-soluble crosslinking agents, and one or more formation damage prevention agents, such as scale inhibitors, iron control agents, non-emulsifiers, clay stabilizers, or polymer breakers. The methods include performing a well treating operation, such as a hydraulic fracturing operation, using the compositions described and inhibiting formation damage, such as scale, iron formation, emulsions, or clay swelling within the subterranean formation. The inclusion of the formation damage preventing agents allows for long-term formation damage inhibition after the treatment. | 08-22-2013 |
20140034323 | Methods and Compositions for the Controlled Crosslinking and Viscosifying of Well Servicing Fluids Utilizing Mixed Borate Hydrocarbon-Based Suspensions - Disclosed are treating fluid compositions for use in subterranean workover and hydrocarbon recovery operations, as well as methods of treating subterranean formations penetrated by a wellbore utilizing the treating fluid. The treating fluid compositions contain a first, aqueous liquid, and a crosslinkable organic polymer that is at least partly soluble in the liquid. The treating fluid further contains a borate crosslinking agent solution containing a primary, un-refined borate and a secondary, refined borate, the borate solution being present as a crosslinking agent upon addition to the first fluid admixture so as to crosslink the organic polymer and increase the viscosity and/or accelerate the crosslink time of the treating fluid. | 02-06-2014 |
20140051606 | Solubilized Polymer Concentrates, Methods of Preparation Thereof, and Well Drilling and Servicing Fluids Containing the Same - The invention provides concentrates for reducing the fluid loss on an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid, the concentrates comprising an oleagineous liquid and (1) a polymer which is solublized in the oleagineous liquid, or (2) a polymer which is solublized in the oleaginous liquid together with an organophilic polyphenolic material which is solublized and/or dispersed in the oleagineous liquid. The method of preparing the concentrate and the method of reducing the fluid loss of an oil base well drilling or servicing fluid utilizing the concentrates is also disclosed. The preferred oil soluble polymer is a styrene-butadiene rubber crumb. The preferred oleagineous liquid is an aromatic-free hydrogenated oil essentially containing only saturated hydrocarbons. The preferred polyphenolic material is a source of humic acid, such as mined lignite. | 02-20-2014 |
20140262296 | Methods, Systems, and Compositions for the Controlled Crosslinking of Well Servicing Fluids - Treating fluid compositions for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations from subterranean formations are described, as well as methods for their preparation and use. In particular, treating fluid compositions are described which comprise a liquid, a crosslinkable organic polymer material that is at least partially soluble in the liquid, a crosslinking agent that is capable of increasing the viscosity of the treating fluid by crosslinking the organic polymer material in the liquid, and a crosslinking modifier additive which can delay or accelerate the crosslinking of the treating fluid composition. Such compositions may be used in a variety of hydrocarbon recovery operations including fracturing operations, drilling operations, gravel packing operations, water control operations, and the like. | 09-18-2014 |
20140349897 | Treatment Fluids with Non-Oxidizer Class Inorganic Peroxide Polymer Breakers and Methods of Use Thereof - A treatment fluid composition for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore is formed from an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer and an inorganic peroxide breaking agent, which is classified as a stable, non-oxidizer according to UN standards but which retains oxidizing properties as measured by the content of available oxygen. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore may also be performed by forming a treatment fluid from an aqueous hydrated polymer solution. This is combined with a stable, inorganic peroxide breaking agent. The treating fluid is then introduced into the formation. An optional crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the polymer may also be included. | 11-27-2014 |
20140352961 | Concentrated Borate Crosslinking Solutions For Use In Hydraulic Fracturing Operations - Disclosed are treating fluid compositions for use in subterranean hydraulic fracturing operations, wherein the fluid compositions contain a liquid, a crosslinkable organic polymer that is soluble in the liquid, and a concentrated borate solution containing a refined, readily-soluble borate, the borate solution being present as a crosslinking agent to crosslink the organic polymer and increase the viscosity of the composition. The compositions may further include one or more freeze-point depressants, thereby increasing the stability of the compositions over a wide range of environmental temperatures. | 12-04-2014 |