The invention relates to synthetic nanocompounds in the form of microparticles that allow major deformations before breaking and are especially useful for preparing low-density synthetic propping agents to be used in non-conventional oil and gas extraction processes (fracking). The invention also describes the process for obtaining said nanocompounds, propping agents and fracturing fluids for oil and gas extraction processes.

Disclosed are compositions derived of mixtures of choline ion salts (typically choline chloride) in aqueous solution with suspended particulates of sparingly soluble borate minerals or with alkali or alkaline earth borate salts, boric acid and its ester derivatives and salts, or other aqueous soluble borate forms. These compositions are useful as cross-linkers for polysaccharides and other biopolymers and particularly as used in subterranean treatment fluids for completion and stimulation of oil and gas wells. Advantages of the compositions are the combination into a single package of the properties of clay stabilizing actives (choline ion) and crosslinking actives (borates, etc.), in relatively high concentrations, and these compositions are easy to handle, being stable and pumpable at low temperatures, and with attractive environmental profiles. Also disclosed are the analogous choline solutions mixed with metallic cross-linking ions know in the art such as Zr.sup.+, Ti.sup.4+, Al.sup.3+, & Fe.sup.3+.

The present invention relates to the well drilling field in petrochemical industry, and discloses a high-density water-based drilling fluid suitable for horizontal shale gas wells comprising a nano-plugging agent, a bionic wall bracing agent, a bionic shale inhibitor, a filler, an emulsifier, and an amphiphobic wettability reversal agent, wherein, the nano-plugging agent is modified silicon dioxide nano-particle, and its modifying group includes a modifying copolymer chain; the bionic wall bracing agent is carboxymethyl chitosan with a dopamine-derived group grafted on its main chain; the bionic shale inhibitor is composed of structural units of arginine and structural units of lysine; the filler consists of calcium carbonate of 1,600-2,500 mesh, calcium carbonate of 1,050-1,500 mesh, and calcium carbonate of 500-1,000 mesh at a weight ratio of 1:0.55-6:0.55-6; and the amphiphobic wettability reversal agent is a dual-cation fluorocarbon surfactant. The drilling fluid provided herein is suitable for use in shale gas mining.

The present invention relates to the well drilling field in petrochemical industry, and discloses a drilling fluid additive composition and water-based drilling fluid suitable for horizontal shale gas wells. The composition comprises a nano-plugging agent, a bionic wall bracing agent, a bionic shale inhibitor, an emulsifier, and an amphiphobic wettability reversal agent, wherein, the nano-plugging agent is modified silicon dioxide nano-particles, and its modifying group includes an acrylic copolymer chain; the bionic wall bracing agent is carboxymethyl chitosan with a dopamine-derived group grafted on its main chain; the bionic shale inhibitor is composed of structural units of arginine and structural units of lysine; and the amphiphobic wettability reversal agent is a dual-cation fluorocarbon surfactant. The drilling fluid containing the additive composition provided in the present invention has high temperature-resistance, high plugging and high inhibition performance, is environment friendly, especially has high density, and is applicable to shale gas mining.

The present invention relates to the well drilling field in petrochemical industry, and discloses an environment-friendly water-based drilling fluid applicable to horizontal shale gas wells comprising a nano-plugging agent, a bionic wall bracing agent, a bionic shale inhibitor, a filler, an emulsifier, and an amphiphobic wettability reversal agent, wherein, the nano-plugging agent is modified silicon dioxide nano-particle, and its modifying group includes an acrylic copolymer chain; the bionic wall bracing agent is carboxymethyl chitosan with a dopamine-derived group grafted on its main chain; the bionic shale inhibitor is composed of structural units of arginine and structural units of lysine; the filler consists of calcium carbonate of 1,600-2,500 mesh, calcium carbonate of 1,050-1,500 mesh, and calcium carbonate of 500-1,000 mesh at a weight ratio of 1:0.55-6:0.55-6; and the amphiphobic wettability reversal agent is a dual-cation fluorocarbon surfactant. The drilling fluid provided in the present invention has high temperature-resistance, high plugging and high inhibition performance, is environment friendly, especially has high density, and is applicable to shale gas mining.

A clay swelling inhibitor additive for oil and gas well treatment is disclosed. The additive comprises an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer and ammonium acetate. The additive composition synergistically retards water absorption by the down-hole clay formation.

A method includes adding a clay to water to form a suspension of clay in water, the clay including pieces of clay having an average diameter of at least 2 μm; adding a dispersant to the suspension of clay in water to form a drilling fluid; and injecting the drilling fluid into a well. In the drilling fluid, the dispersant interacts with the clay to form nanoscale particles of clay having an average diameter of less than 500 nm.

Wellbore fluids may contain alkyl amine and cyclic organic acid complexes capable of controlling hydration in swellable formations such as shale- and clay-containing formations. Further, methods of drilling may utilize wellbore fluids containing a base fluid and a complex of alkyl amine and a cyclic organic acid.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods of producing charged composite materials. The method may include synthesizing a composite material and charging the composite material to produce a charged composite material. The composite material may include an inorganic composite component and an organic component. The organic component may include one or more primary or secondary amines. The organic component may be covalently bonded to the inorganic composite component. The charged composite material may be positively charged.

Method of selecting an optimum formation stabilization treatment for subterranean formations is described. The methods include obtaining formation material, adding a test fluid to the formation material to form a first mixture, adding the test fluid to the formation material to form a second mixture, agitating the first and second mixtures, measuring capillary suction time of the first mixture, and measuring turbidity of the second mixture.