David P Kippie

Robert L Horton

Morris Arvie, Jr

William E Foxenberg

Bethicia B Prasek

Frederick B Growcock

John W Vian

Kamila B Abdur-Rahman

John W Powell

James Fredrick Donham

A method of gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation having a filter cake coated on the surface thereof is disclosed. The method may include: injecting into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one alkyl glycoside. Also disclosed is a solution including an aqueous fluid, at least one alkyl glycoside, and gravel which may be used as a composition for a gravel pack operation, for example.

Gravel pack carrier fluids

Compositions for increasing the thermal and pressure stability of well fluids viscosified using viscoelastic surfactants, the compositions including an effective amount of an oligomeric or polymeric compound that has a thermally stable backbone structure and at least one pendent viscoelastic surfactant functional group. Preferred compositions for increasing the stability of well fluids viscosified using monomeric viscoelastic surfactants include an effective amount of an oligomeric or polymeric compound that has a thermally stable backbone structure and a multiplicity of pendent viscoelastic surfactant functional groups attached to said backbone structure through relatively long hydrocarbon chains, 1 to 18 carbons in length.

Surfactant-polymer compositions for enhancing the stability of viscoelastic-surfactant based fluid

A monovalent cation containing well fluid composed of an aqueous brine containing at least 0.6 equivalents per liter of a water soluble monovalent cation salt, is substantially free of divalent cations, and an amount of a starch derivative selected such that the well fluid has the following characteristics: (a) a low shear rate viscosity greater than about 5,000 centipoise; (b) a high shear rate viscosity at 511 secin the range from about 15 to about 70 centipoise measured at 120&#xb0; F. is described. The fluid may be formulated to be substantially free of xanthan gums and preferably has less than 0.25 lb/bbl of xanthan gum.

Monovalent cation-containing well fluids

A method of injection of a higher density fluid into the top of the annulus of a well while lower density fluid is withdrawn from the top of the annulus of the well, wherein the higher density fluid has a composition such that it will drop through the lower density fluid without dispersing therein, thus flowing into the deeper reaches of the annulus and not short circuiting through the top of the annulus to the point from which the lower density fluid is intended to be withdrawn. A method of injection of a higher density fluid into the top of the annulus of a well without simultaneously withdrawing a lower density fluid from the top of the annulus of the well, wherein the higher density fluid has a composition such that it will drop through the lower density fluid without dispersing therein, thus flowing into the deeper reaches of the annulus so that when the pressure induced in the annulus as a result of this injection is subsequently bled off, principally the lower density fluid will be that which is withdrawn.

Remediation treatment of sustained casing pressures (SCP) in wells with top down surface injection of fluids and additives

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.

Thermally stable, substantially water-free well fluid

High density, thermally stable, brine-based well fluids and methods of using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment a well fluid including water and a salt, the salt including at least one formate salt, wherein the weight-to-volume ratio of the well fluid is within the range of at least 120% to about 400% is disclosed. In another embodiment, a well fluid including water, a viscosifying agent, and a salt, the salt including at least one formate salt, wherein the weight-to-volume ratio of the well fluid is within the range of at least 120% to about 400% is disclosed. A method of treating a well using a well fluid, wherein the well fluid includes water and a salt, the salt including at least one formate salt, wherein the weight-to-volume ratio of the well fluid is within the range of at least 120% to about 400% is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

David P Kippie