The disclosure relates to a method of delaying viscosification of a well treatment fluid within a well or within a subterranean formation penetrated by a well by introducing into the well a hydratable viscosifying agent of particulates having a minimum of 40% retention on a 60 mesh screen and a minimum of 1% retention on a 20 mesh screen.

Proppant particulates are commonly used in hydraulic fracturing operations to maintain one or more fractures in an opened state following the release of hydraulic pressure. In complex fracture networks, it can be difficult to deposit proppant particulates fully within the fractures. In addition, low crush strengths may result in problematic fines formation. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons, commonly encountered in various refinery process streams, may serve as an advantageous precursor to proppant particulates. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons may undergo crosslinking under acid-catalyzed conditions in an aqueous solvent in the presence of a surfactant to form substantially spherical particulates that may serve as effective proppant particulates during fracturing operations. In situ formation of the proppant particulates may take place in some cases.

A method and hydraulic fracturing fluid that is a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluid having a surfactant and an inorganic oxidizer salt for hydraulic fracturing of a geological formation. The VES fracturing fluid is provided through a wellbore into the geological formation to hydraulically fracture the geological formation to form hydraulic fractures in the geological formation. The method includes oxidizing organic material in the hydraulic fractures with the VES fracturing fluid.

A method and hydraulic fracturing fluid that is a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluid having a surfactant and an inorganic oxidizer salt for hydraulic fracturing of a geological formation. The VES fracturing fluid is provided through a wellbore into the geological formation to hydraulically fracture the geological formation to form hydraulic fractures in the geological formation. The method includes oxidizing organic material in the hydraulic fractures with the VES fracturing fluid.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

Methods and compositions comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion for use treating an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises an aqueous phase, a solvent, a surfactant comprising alkyl polyglycoside, an alcohol, and, optionally, one or more additives.

Fracturing fluid comprising, in solution in water, a proppant and an associative amphoteric polymer, the said polymer and comprising: 0.01 to 10 mol % of at least one cationic monomer containing a hydrophobic chain, from 0.09 to 89.99 mol % of at least one anionic monomer, and from 10 to 99.9 mol % of at least one nonionic water-soluble monomer, the total amount of monomer being 100 mol %. Fracturing process using this fluid.

Fracturing fluid comprising, in solution in water, a proppant and an associative amphoteric polymer, the said polymer and comprising: 0.01 to 10 mol % of at least one cationic monomer containing a hydrophobic chain, from 0.09 to 89.99 mol % of at least one anionic monomer, and from 10 to 99.9 mol % of at least one nonionic water-soluble monomer, the total amount of monomer being 100 mol %. Fracturing process using this fluid.

Multiple charged cationic compounds, which are derived from polyamines through an aza-Michael addition with an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compound, in a clay treatment composition to reduces clay swelling, clay migration, and sludge formation in a subterranean formation in oil and gas operations are provided. The disclosed methods or compositions are found to be more effective than those methods or compositions commonly used for reducing clay swelling, clay migration, and sludge formation.

Multiple charged cationic compounds, which are derived from polyamines through an aza-Michael addition with an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compound, in a clay treatment composition to reduces clay swelling, clay migration, and sludge formation in a subterranean formation in oil and gas operations are provided. The disclosed methods or compositions are found to be more effective than those methods or compositions commonly used for reducing clay swelling, clay migration, and sludge formation.