The Western Company of North America

Pennzoil Products Company

Pennzoil Company

D V Gupta

Marek K Pakulski

Alexandra B Shortt

Bethicia B Prasek

Robert L Horton

Bobby E Hall

Aidan P Cooney

Vernon L Franklin

Clarita A Szemenyei

Richard D Horn

William C Pumphrey

Bethicia M Prasek

The present invention is directed to new enzyme breakers for breaking fracturing fluids or blocking gels, wherein the enzyme breakers only have activity above a selected temperature, i.e., no activity below the selected temperature or only active in a narrow temperature range. The present invention is preferably specifically directed to hemicellulase enzyme breakers only having activity above 100.degree. F., 150.degree. F., 200.degree. F., or 250.degree. F. and the method of making and use thereof.

Enzyme breakers for breaking fracturing fluids and methods of making and

A method of fracturing a subterranean formation in a well bore is shown in which a gellable fracturing fluid is first formed by blending together an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer, a suitable cross-linking agent for cross-linking the hydratable polymer to form a polymer gel and an encapsulated enzyme breaker. The cross-linked polymer gel is pumped into the well bore under sufficient pressure to fracture the surrounding formation. The encapsulated enzyme breaker is allowed to degrade the cross-linked polymer with time to reduce the viscosity of the fluid so that the fluid can be pumped from the formation back to the well surface. The particular enzyme breaker uses open cellular encapsulation to protect and delay the action of the enzyme.

Method for fracturing subterranean formations using controlled release

A method for mixing cement with water is provided. Dry cement is first slurried in oil. The slurry is easily metered and mixed with water to obtain a cement/water/oil slurry having the desired density. Cement/water/oil slurries thus produced can be used in all applications and have properties, when cured, comparable to cements not containing oil. The method allows precision metering of the cement and therefore precision control over the density of the final cement slurry.

Cement mixing system

The present invention relates to the use of oximes as thermal decomposition reduction additive for gels used in oil field drilling fluids, fluids used as proppant carriers and fluids used during well completion and workover.

High temperature gel stabilizer for fracturing fluids

A method for hydraulic fracturing using crosslinked guar polymers wherein the high temperature viscosity and thermal stability of said polymers is maximized by adjusting the pH such that the cationic charge density of the polymer is at its maximum. These maximums occur for guar at a pH of 10.5 and for carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar at a pH of 10.7.

Method for fracturing high temperature subterranean formations

The invention is directed toward a breaker system for breaking fluids used to fracture subterranean formations. Specifically, the invention relates to a breaker system comprised of an enzyme component and a pH component. The enzyme component is active at only certain pH levels and, at those levels, is able to break the fluid. The fluid is not initially at a pH level at which the enzyme is active. The pH component controllably adjusts the pH of the fluid to a level such that the enzyme becomes active and can break the fluid at the desired time after the formation has been fractured.

Fracturing fluid having a delayed enzyme breaker

An aqueous gel comprising an aqueous fluid containing a polymeric gelling agent, a buffer, an aluminum-based crosslinking composition and a xanthan containing retardant composition. The gel is useful for fracturing and carrying propping agents within subterranean formations.

Low pH fracturing compositions

Encapsulations comprised of a breaker enclosed within a membrane are utilized to break fluids used to fracture subterranean formations. The membrane of the encapsulation is permeable to at least one fluid in the subterranean formation or injected with the breaker such that the breaker diffuses through the membrane into the fracturing fluid. Thus, controlled amounts of breaker are released into the fracturing fluid.

Encapsulations for treating subterranean formations and methods for the

This invention relates to the breaking of high viscosity aqueous fluids in which xanthan gum was used as a thickening agent. The invention provides a breaker system comprising two oxidizers, an organic acid, and two catalysts. The invention is particularly useful in oil field operations such as placement of a gravel pack or distribution of a proppant in a fractured formation.

Breaker system for aqueous fluids containing xanthan gums

A surface-treating low-stability water-in-oil emulsion composition particularly adapted for cleaning a surface comprising at least one liquid hydrocarbon oil solvent, water and an emulsifying agent comprising an N-alkanoyl-2,2'-iminobis(ethyl alkanoate). The emulsion composition may further include a compressed gas whereby the composition may be applied to a surface in the form of an aerosol.

Method of treating surface with water-in-oil emulsion composition

A surface-treating low-stability water-in-oil emulsion composition particularly adapted for cleaning a surface comprising at least one liquid hydrocarbon oil solvent, water, and an emulsifying agent comprising an N-alkanoyl-2,2'-iminobis(ethyl alkanoate). The emulsion composition may further include a compressed gas whereby the composition may be applied to a surface in the form of an aerosol.

Surface treating water-in-oil emulsion composition and method

A surface coating composition comprising an amino-functional silicone polymer, a metal chelated acrylic polymer a hydrocarbon solvent and water. The metal-chelated acrylic polymer preferably comprises zinc, and the composition may further comprise abrasive materials, surfactants, thickeners and stabilizers. The surface coating composition is particularly adapted for providing a glossy and durable finish on a surface.

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The Woodlands, TX, United States of America

D V Gupta