Heavy fluids are made from calcium bromide and at least one hydrogen bond donor such as a low molecular weight polyol or an organic acid. The combination of a hydrogen bond donor and calcium bromide as a hydrogen bond acceptor in an appropriate molar ratio forms a higher density clear completion fluid at a low temperature not otherwise obtainable with heavy aqueous solutions of calcium bromide such as are used in oilfield wells. A method of making the fluid comprises mixing calcium bromide with the polyol(s) in the presence of water and then reducing the water content, thus forming a heavy fluid. A crystallization inhibitor such as nitrilotriacetamide or a particulate silicate is included in the formulation. When the heavy fluid “freezes,” its physical form is somewhat amorphous and pumpable rather than crystalline. The heavy fluid is useful as a drilling fluid as well as a completion fluid and for other purposes in oil recovery processes where extreme density is beneficial.

The present application relates to methods and systems for mitigating condensate banking. In some embodiments, the methods and systems involve altering the wettability of a rock formation in the vicinity of a wellbore for a gas condensate reservoir.

Provided is a method making it possible to ensure a gradual release of polymer chains within a liquid medium, the method comprising bringing the liquid medium into contact with specific solid objects formed by polymer chains soluble in the medium and carrying hydrophobic side groups ensuring physical crosslinking between the polymer chains within the solid objects. The released chains may in particular be used as inhibitors of the formation of inorganic or organic deposits (scale inhibitors) within a liquid medium, typically in the field of oil extraction.

Nano-sized mixed metal oxide carriers capable of delivering a well treatment additive for a sustained or extended period of time in the environment of use, methods of making the nanoparticles, and uses thereof are described herein. The nanoparticles can have a formula of:
A/[M.sub.x.sup.1M.sub.y.sup.2M.sub.z.sup.3]O.sub.nH.sub.m
where x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.4, z is 0.01 to 0.4 and n and m are determined by the oxidation states of the other elements, and M.sup.1 can be aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), or thallium (Tl). M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are not the same and can be a Column 2 metal, Column 14 metal, or a transition metal. A is can be a treatment additive.

Dual cation hydrate inhibitor compositions and methods of using such compositions to, for example, inhibit the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates are provided. In some embodiments, such methods include introducing a hydrate inhibitor composition into a fluid, wherein the hydrate inhibitor composition includes at least one compound having the structural formula: ##STR00001##
wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is independently a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 hydrocarbon chain, wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and any C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 hydrocarbon chain, wherein each of R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a C.sub.1 to C.sub.50 hydrocarbon chain, wherein X.sup.− and Y.sup.− are counter anions, and wherein each of a and b is independently an integer from 1 to 10.

Systems and methods of injecting hydrate inhibiting chemicals into a gaseous fuel line of a burner are described. One system includes: an oilfield burner; a gaseous fuel line connected to the oilfield burner; a storage tank containing hydrate-inhibiting chemicals; a hydrate-inhibiting chemical supply line connected between the storage tank and the gaseous fuel line; and a control valve connected to control flow in the hydrate-inhibiting chemical supply line in response to the operation of the oilfield burner. A kit may be provided with at least the hydrate-inhibiting chemical supply line and control valve.

A method of reducing the viscosity of a crude oil, the method including adding to the crude oil (i) a surfactant compound including at least two hydrophobic groups wherein the resultant mixture has a water content of less than 10 vol %.

A kinetic gas hydrate inhibitor is provided as a polyester polymer with a plurality of amino or ammonium groups pendent directly from the backbone. A composition containing concentrated kinetic inhibitor is injected into gas wells, or into other systems involving transporting liquid gas mixtures through a conduit. Use of the kinetic inhibitor prevents formation of gas hydrates under conditions of temperature and pressure where they would otherwise occur.

Methods including preparing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a gelling agent, and crosslinker-coated particulates, wherein the crosslinker-coated particulates are formed by at least partially coating a particulate with a stabilizing agent, and at least partially coating the particulate with a first crosslinking agent atop the stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent imparts a hydrophobic nature to the particulate when the stabilizing agent is at least partially coated onto the particulate; introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation, and reacting the first crosslinking agent with the gelling agent in the treatment fluid so as to crosslink the gelling agent and suspend the crosslinker-coated particulates.

Nano-sized mixed metal oxide carriers capable of delivering a well treatment additive for a sustained or extended period of time in the environment of use, methods of making the nanoparticles, and uses thereof are described herein. The nanoparticles can have a formula of:

A/[M.sub.x.sup.1M.sub.y.sup.2M.sub.z.sup.3]O.sub.nH.sub.m

where x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.4, z is 0.01 to 0.4 and n and m are determined by the oxidation states of the other elements, and M.sup.1 can be aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), or thallium (Tl). M.sup.2 and M.sup.3 are not the same and can be a Column 2 metal, Column 14 metal, or a transition metal. A is can be a treatment additive.