Nano- and micro-particles (NMP) can be formed from an oil/water emulsion. The emulsion is made by mixing a liquid solvent, at least one surfactant, a particle-forming compound, and at least curing agent. If desired, pH control agents and viscosity enhancers can be added to the liquid solvent. The particle-forming compound and the curing agents are mixed together and form the oil phase in the emulsion and after curing, the particles are formed. The nano- and micro-particles can be used as proppant to enhance the conductivity of nano- and microfractures and fluid-loss-control additive for hydraulic fracturing operations.

A method for extracting and separating salt alkali from saline alkali soil and soil improvement is disclosed. A foundation pit, square convex edge and cylindrical partition are arranged on a saline alkali land. Nitric or phosphoric acid solution is added to obtain a saline alkali pool. A trench is set around, and/or, a cylinder is set in the center of saline alkali pool. The evaporating material is prepared from vermiculite, laid on plastic wrapping material, and/or added into the cylinder. The salt alkali is precipitated and enriched through natural evaporation. The evaporating material enriched with salt alkali is taken out to be dissolved, separated and washed to obtain saline alkali solution and vermiculite or evaporating material. The vermiculite material is returned for reuse, and the above process is repeated. Alkali solution and intercalation agent are added into saline alkali solution to react and crystallize to obtain functional materials.

Nano- and micro-particles (NMP) can be formed from an oil/water emulsion. The emulsion is made by mixing a liquid solvent, at least one surfactant, a particle-forming compound, and at least curing agent. If desired, pH control agents and viscosity enhancers can be added to the liquid solvent. The particle-forming compound and the curing agents are mixed together and form the oil phase in the emulsion and after curing, the particles are formed. The nano- and micro-particles can be used as proppant to enhance the conductivity of nano- and microfractures and fluid-loss-control additive for hydraulic fracturing operations.

A method of repairing a well is provided. The method includes injecting a brine solution into the well, injecting carbon dioxide into the well, and reacting the brine solution in the reservoir rock with the carbon dioxide to form calcite such that calcite precipitates into the desired flow path between a cold well and a hot well to effectively repair short circuits within the EGS reservoir.

The aqueous phase of a drilling fluid can be provided with self-adjusting alkalinity by introducing a buffering system, where the buffering system includes a buffering agent, an acid or a base, and an inorganic salt, and where the pH of the aqueous phase is in the range of from about 8 to about 12. In one non-limiting embodiment, the pH does not vary by more than about 0.5 pH units after a variation in temperature of the drilling fluid of at least about 175 C. for at least about 200 hours.