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.

The present disclosure provides polymeric systems that exhibit enhanced viscosity and proppant transport properties while providing enhanced particle dispersion capabilities.

A composition includes an emulsion of nanocomposite in water and a proppant. The nanocomposite includes an epoxy resin and an organically modified montmorillonite compatible to the epoxy resin.

Treatment fluids and associated methods for treating a subterranean formation. An example method includes introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. The treatment fluid includes a competitive metal binder selected from the group consisting of polyamino polyether methylene phosphoric acid, hydoxyethylamino-di(methylene phosphoric acid), and a combination thereof; a polymer capable of forming a polymer-metal complex; and an aqueous fluid. The method further includes contacting a metal ion with the treatment fluid after introduction of the treatment fluid into the wellbore and binding the metal ion with the competitive metal binder.

Emulsions, treatment fluids and methods for treating subterranean formations are provided, wherein the emulsions comprise water, a water-immiscible liquid, one or more polymers, one or more ethoxylated amine compounds and optionally, one or more organic or inorganic salts. The emulsions are particularly suitable for use in harsh brine conditions.

A method includes injecting an injection fluid through a well and to a depth of a formation, where the injection fluid includes phase-changing nanodroplets having a liquid core and a shell. The method also includes exposing the phase-changing nanodroplets to an external stimulus at the depth of the formation, wherein the liquid core of the phase-changing nanodroplets undergoes a liquid-to-vapor phase change causing the phase-changing nanodroplets to expand, and stimulating the formation at a near wellbore region by expansion of the phase-changing nanodroplets.

Treatment fluids and associated methods for treating a subterranean formation. An example method includes introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. The treatment fluid includes a competitive metal binder selected from the group consisting of polyamino polyether methylene phosphonic acid, hydoxyethylamino-di(methylene phosphonic acid), and a combination thereof; a polymer capable of forming a polymer-metal complex; and an aqueous fluid. The method further includes contacting a metal ion with the treatment fluid after introduction of the treatment fluid into the wellbore and binding the metal ion with the competitive metal binder.

The present invention relates to friction reducers and to well treatment fluids. In one embodiment there is provided a friction reducing composition comprising (a) a phosphonium compound and (b) a polymeric friction reducer. In a further embodiment there is provided a well treatment fluid comprising a phosphonium compound.

Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation include introducing a fracturing fluid containing an aqueous medium, a viscosifying agent and a polyethylene oxide alkyl ether through a wellbore and into the subterranean formation, pressurizing the fracturing fluid to fracture the subterranean formation, and allowing the fracturing fluid to flow back into the wellbore from the subterranean formation. The polyethylene oxide alkyl ether useful in some embodiments is defined according to the formula: where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from linear or branched alkyl groups having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, and ‘n’ may be a value selected from within a range of from 1 to 100.

Polymers and fracturing fluid compositions including a base fluid, an effective amount of a hydratable polymer composition including one or more gel-forming hydratable polymers, a friction reducer composition including hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed hydrolyzable polymers and copolymers, a cross-linking composition in an amount sufficient to crosslink the one or more gel-forming hydratable polymers to form crosslinked structures within the fracturing fluid composition with or without a proppant and methods including combining an aqueous fluid and an oleaginous fluid to prepare an invert emulsion comprising a polymerizable composition, degassing the invert emulsion under an extensional flow regime through an elongated passageway of an extender and thereby removing oxygen to produce a degassed invert emulsion and compositions and methods including a hydratable additive concentrate comprising a hydratable additive that is at least substantially hydrated and a hydrating liquid, wherein the hydratable additive concentrate is a mixture produced according to a method that includes flowing a hydrating liquid in a extensional flow regime through an elongated passageway of an extender.