Shell Oil Comapny

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Shell Usa, Inc.

Ipsi, L.l.c.

Ying Zhang

Paul Richard Weider

Robert Lawrence Blackbourn

Ryan Matthew Van Zanten

Timothy Michael Shea

Lee Nicky Morgenthaler

Zhongxin Huo

Cornelis Antonius Theodorus Kuijvenhoven

Jame Yao

Douglas G Elliot

Gregory Paul Perez

Rong-Jwyn Lee

Jong Juh Chen

An acid-generating fluid includes a thermally activated strong acid precursor. The thermally activated strong acid precursor can include a component selected from aldehydes, ketones, and combinations thereof, in combination with a precursor of a compound adapted to react to liberate sulfur dioxide; or it can include sulfur dioxide in combination with a precursor of a compound adapted to react to liberate a component selected from aldehydes, ketones, and combinations thereof.

Thermally activated strong acids

An acid-generating fluid comprising a thermally activated strong acid precursor is provided in the method of the present invention. The thermally activated strong acid precursor comprises sulfur dioxide or a first precursor of a compound adapted to react to liberate sulfur dioxide, and an aldehyde and/or a ketone or a second precursor of a compound adapted to react to liberate an aldehyde and/or ketone. The acid-generating fluid is placed into a subterranean formation, where the first precursor and/or the second precursor are thermally activated, thereby liberating sulfur dioxide and the aldehyde and/or ketone. The sulfur dioxide and the aldehyde and/or ketone are reacted to form a thermally activated strong acid.

A method of inhibiting the formation of foam in a mixture comprising water and hydrocarbons, the method comprising contacting the mixture with a composition which comprises at least one ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is preferably a poly(hydroxycarboxylic acid) amide salt derivative or an alkyl ethoxylate phosphate salt.

Method and composition for inhibiting foam in a hydrocarbon mixture

A method of inhibiting the formation or deposition of wax in a mixture comprising hydrocarbons, the method comprising contacting the mixture with a composition which comprises at least one ionic liquid. The ionic liquid is preferably a polyamine salt derivative or a polypropylene glycol derivative.

Method and composition for inhibiting wax in a hydrocarbon mixture

A method of inhibiting the deposition of asphaltene in a mixture comprising hydrocarbons, the method comprising contacting the mixture with a composition which comprises at least one poly(hydroxycarboxylic acid) amide salt derivative.

Method and composition for inhibiting asphaltene deposition in a hydrocarbon mixture

Drilling fluids comprising a carrier fluid; a weighting agent that comprises sub-micron precipitated barite; a particle having a specific gravity of greater than about 2.6; and, a bridging agent that is not the submicron-precipitated barite or the particle. The weighting agent has a particle size distribution such that at least 10% of particles in the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.2 microns, at least 50% of the particles in the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.3 microns and at least 90% of the particles in the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.5 microns. The particle has a specific gravity of greater than about 2.6 is not sub-micron precipitated barite. The ratio of the sub-micron precipitated barite to the particle is about 10:90 to about 99:1. The bridging agent comprises a degradable material.

High performance drilling fluids with submicron-size particles as the weighting agent

Methods and compositions utilizing a drilling fluid comprising sub-micron precipitated barite having a weight average particle diameter below about 1 micron. Methods include a method comprising circulating a drilling fluid in a well bore, wherein the drilling fluid comprises: a carrier fluid; and a weighting agent that comprises sub-micron precipitated barite having a weight average particle diameter below about 1 micron are disclosed. In some embodiments, the drilling fluid may comprise an invert emulsion. In some embodiments, the sub-micron precipitated barite has a particle size distribution such that at least 10% of particles in the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.2 micron, at least 50% of the particles in the of the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.3 micron and at least 90% of the particles in the sub-micron precipitated barite have a diameter below about 0.5 micron.

Methods and compositions are provided that include a water-in-oil composition comprising an oil-based continuous phase and a discontinuous phase that comprises at least a plurality of hydrogel droplets and a method comprising providing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an oil-based continuous phase and a discontinuous phase that comprises at least a plurality of hydrogel droplets; and placing the water-in-oil emulsion in a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.

Water-in-oil emulsions with hydrogel droplets background

The present invention is directed to methods for improving the efficiency of processes for the recovery of natural gas liquids from a gas feed, e.g., raw natural gas or a refinery or petrochemical plant gas stream. These methods may be employed with most, if not all, conventional separation methods using distillation towers, e.g., a demethanizer and/or deethanizer column. The methods of the present invention involve installing an internal refrigeration system consisting of an open cycle refrigerant withdrawn from a distillation column and a closed cycle refrigerant derived from the open cycle refrigeration system. A separator is installed downstream of the recycle compressor discharge cooler in the open cycle refrigeration scheme. At least a portion of liquid withdrawn from this separator is used as a closed cycle refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with the inlet gas or other process streams. Thus a closed refrigeration cycle enhances the performance of the open refrigeration cycle.

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Ying Zhang