Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Ryan Patrick Collins

Preston Andrew May

Shantel J Stone

Charles R Landis

Laura P Kuri

Thomas S Cortner

Diptabhas Sarkar

David M Donald

Joshuah S Hathcox

Laura Kuri

Joshuah Shain Hathcox

The permeability of barrier layers formed from sodium bentonite clay may be significantly and unpredictably impacted upon contacting various ionic substances. Modifying agents may be admixed with sodium bentonite clay to lessen the impacts resulting from its contact with an ionic substance. Suitable modifying agents may comprise an anionic substance selected from the group consisting of a diutan, a polymer containing a 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid monomer, any salt thereof, and any combination thereof. Methods for forming a barrier layer may comprise: providing a barrier material comprising sodium bentonite clay and a modifying agent admixed with the sodium bentonite clay, the modifying agent comprising an anionic substance selected from the group consisting of a diutan, a polymer containing a 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid monomer, any salt thereof, and any combination thereof; and forming a barrier layer comprising the barrier material.

Modified sodium bentonite clays for barrier layer applications

Various embodiments disclosed relate to hydroxy-terminated poly(alkylene oxide) copolymer surfactants for use downhole, downhole compositions including the same, and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method can include obtaining or providing a composition including a hydroxy-terminated poly(alkylene oxide) copolymer surfactant. The copolymer surfactant can include a first repeating unit having the structure &#x2014;[RO]&#x2014;, wherein at each occurrence Ris independently a substituted or unsubstituted (C-C)alkylene group. The copolymer surfactant can include a second repeating unit having the structure &#x2014;[RO]&#x2014;, wherein at each occurrence Ris independently a substituted or unsubstituted (C-C)alkylene group. The first repeating unit can have a lower molecular weight than the second repeating unit. The first repeating unit and the second repeating unit can have a random copolymer or block copolymer arrangement in the copolymer surfactant. The method can also include placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole.

Copolymer surfactants for use in downhole fluids

The present invention relates to nanoparticle smart tags and the use of nanoparticle smart tags in the detection of analyte. In particular, the present invention relates to nanoparticle smart tags that may be used in subgeologic formations to detect analytes of interest in real-time. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a drilling fluid having a nanoparticle smart tag; and a base fluid; and introducing the drilling fluid in a subsurface geologic formation that has an analyte.

Nanoparticle smart tags in subterranean applications

Polymer-based drilling fluids may be used as an alternative to drilling fluids containing bentonite or other clay materials, although filter cake formation with polymer-based drilling fluids can often be inadequate. Drilling methods can comprise: providing a drilling fluid comprising a carrier fluid, a non-crosslinked hydroxyalkylcellulose polymer, and a plurality of non-biodegradable particulates; drilling a borehole in the presence of the drilling fluid; and forming a filter cake within the borehole, the filter cake comprising the non-crosslinked hydroxyalkylcellulose polymer and the non-biodegradable particulates.

Polymer-based drilling fluids containing non-biodegradable materials and methods for use thereof

A wellbore treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a fluid loss additive package, the fluid loss additive package comprising: a water-swellable, superabsorbent polymer; a derivatized cellulose; and non-swellable particles that are insoluble in the base fluid. A method of drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation comprising: providing the drilling fluid; and forming the wellbore using a drill bit and the drilling fluid.

Fluid loss additive package for shallow well drilling fluids

A method comprising drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation; providing a drilling fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a property control package, the property control package comprising: a stabilizing agent; a filtration control agent; and a suspension enhancer; introducing the drilling fluid into the wellbore in the subterranean formation; and continuously circulating the drilling fluid during the drilling of the wellbore.

Drilling fluid compositions and methods for use thereof in subterranean formations

A grout used in horizontal directional drilling including a silica material present in an amount of from about 50% to about 70%, bentonite present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30%, a carbon source present in an amount of from about 5% to about 15%, an inorganic alkaline material present in an amount of from about 0% to about 3%, a fluid loss additive present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, a polymeric dispersant present in an amount of from about 0% to about 1%, and a polymeric flow enhancer present in an amount of from about 0% to about 0.5%, all by weight of the grout composition. Methods utilizing the grout include placing conduit in a hole, forming the grout slurry, and placing the grout slurry adjacent to the conduct.

Thermally enhanced HDD grout

Dry drilling fluid additives may include a dry mixture that comprises a clay stabilizing agent at about 76% to about 93% by weight of the dry mixture, a dispersant at about 3% to about 6% by weight of the dry mixture, and a surfactant at about 4% to about 18% by weight of the dry mixture. Such dry drilling fluid additives may be useful in methods and systems for drilling wellbore penetrating subterranean formations, especially deviated and highly-deviated wellbores.

Dry drilling fluid additives and methods relating thereto

When conducting cementing operations within confined locales, such as the annular space within a wellbore, it can sometimes be difficult to successfully deliver an uncured cement composition to a desired location. Cementing methods can comprise: providing a cement composition comprising a cement and a property control package, the property control package comprising: a filtration control agent; a friction reducer; and a setting accelerator; introducing the cement composition into a mineral exploration wellbore; and setting the cement composition in the wellbore.

Cement compositions for cementing in confined locales and methods for use thereof

A subterranean grouting method including (a) placing a sample of a grout mixture within a test container, (b) separating a sand component from the sample, (c) determining if the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity within a predetermined thermal conductivity range based upon a proportion of the sand component within the sample, and (d) upon determining that the grout mixture exhibits a thermal conductivity with the predetermined thermal conductivity range, securing a conduit within a subterranean bore with the grout mixture, wherein (a), (b), (c), and (d) are carried out proximate each other at a job site.

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Spring, TX, United States of America

Ryan Patrick Collins