An oxidative breaker system for use in reducing the viscosity of a polysaccharide-based or derivatized polysaccharide-based suspension includes a silicone carrier fluid, an oxidizer, and a suspension aid. The suspension aid is preferably fumed silica. The oxidizer may be selected from the group consisting of alkali metal peroxide, transition metal peroxide, persulfate compound, bromide compound, and bromate compound. In highly preferred embodiments, the oxidizer is magnesium peroxide or calcium peroxide. Alternative carrier fluids and suspension agents are also included in the art. Also disclosed is a method for breaking a polysaccharide-based suspension with the inventive oxidative breaker system.

A method for wellbore treatment. The method including preparing an encapsulated treatment agent via polymerization, feeding the encapsulated treatment agent into the wellbore, delivering the encapsulated treatment agent to a desired depth within a formation in the wellbore, activating an acoustic or an electromagnetic source at the desired depth within the formation, and generating an acoustic field or an electromagnetic field. The acoustic field or electromagnetic field activates the encapsulant thereby releasing the treatment agent into the wellbore and a desired depth.

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.

A persulfate compound activated by a strong base is used for low-temperature breaking of fluids viscosified with one or more water-soluble synthetic polymers, wherein the water-soluble synthetic polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides, copolymers of polyacrylamide, derivatives of polyacrylamide or of copolymers of polyacrylamide, and any combination thereof. The breaker system can be used in an oilfield or pipeline application where such a synthetic polymer, a multi-chain polysaccharide, or combination thereof may be present in a fluid. It is particularly useful at low temperatures of less than 100° F.

A hydraulic fracturing composition includes: a superabsorbent polymer in an expanded state; a plurality of proppant particles disposed in the superabsorbent polymer; a well treatment agent, and a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into the expanded state. A process for treating a well with well treatment agent includes disposing a hydraulic fracturing composition comprising the well treatment agent in a well. The well treatment agent can be a scale inhibitor, tracer, pH buffering agent, or a combination thereof.

A breaker composition comprising (i) a first acid precursor, (ii) a second acid precursor and (iii) an aqueous fluid wherein the first acid precursor has an effective operating temperature of from about 15° C. to about 120° C. and the second acid precursor has an effective operating temperature of from about 30° C. to about 180° C.

A method of enhancing conductivity within a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by building proppant pillars in a spatial arrangement in fractures created or enlarged in the reservoir. Two fluids of differing viscosity and stability are simultaneously pumped into the reservoir. The fluids contain identical proppants which include a proppant which is neutrally buoyant in the fluid and a proppant which is not neutrally buoyant in the fluid. Vertically extending pillars are created within the formation when the fluids are destabilized and the heavier proppant is then released from the destabilized fluids. The area between the pillars may be held open by the presence of the neutrally buoyant proppant in the remaining fluid. Fluid produced from the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is then flowed at least partially through channels between the vertically extending pillars.

A composition including a coated nanoparticle and an ion, wherein the coated nanoparticle includes a nanoparticle, a linker, and a stabilizing group; methods of making and using the composition; and systems including the composition. The linker includes an anchoring group, a spacer, and a terminal group. The anchoring group is covalently bound to the nanoparticle and at least one of the terminal groups is covalently bound to at least one stabilizing group. A composition including a crosslinked-coated nanoparticle and an ion, wherein the crosslinked-coated nanoparticle includes a nanoparticle and a coating that includes a linker, a crosslinker, and a stabilizing group; methods of making and using the composition; and systems including the composition.

A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising pumping a wellbore fluid into the wellbore, the wellbore fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and an environmentally friendly slurried gelling agent meeting at least two of the following three criteria: (1) Biodegradation: a) >60% in 28 days as measured by OECD 306 or any other OSPAR-accepted marine protocols, b) or in the absence of valid results for such tests: i. >60% in 28 days as measured by OECD 301B, 301C, 301D, 301F, 310, Freshwater BODIS or ii. >70% in 28 days as measured by OECD 301A, 301E); (2) Bioaccumulation: a) a bioconcentration factor of less than 100; b) log P.sub.ow≦3 and molecular weight >700, or c) if the conclusion of a weight of evidence expert judgment under Appendix 3 of OSPAR Agreement 2008-5 is positive; and (3) Aquatic Toxicity: a) LC.sub.50>10 mg/l or EC.sub.50>10 mg/l and performing a downhole operation.

Discrete, individualized carbon nanotubes having targeted, or selective, oxidation levels and/or content on the interior and exterior of the tube walls can be used for nanotube-mediated controlled delivery of degradative molecules, such as oxidizers and enzymes, for oil-field drilling applications. A manufacturing process using minimal acid oxidation for carbon nanotubes may also be used which provides higher levels of oxidation compared to other known manufacturing processes.