Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Disclosed are cement compositions for applying to honeycomb bodies as a plugging cement composition, segment cement, or even as an after-applied artificial skin or coating. The cement compositions generally comprise an inorganic powder batch mixture; an organic binder; a liquid vehicle; and a gelled inorganic binder. Also disclosed are honeycomb bodies having the disclosed cement compositions applied thereto, and methods for making same.

Disclosed are cement compositions for applying to honeycomb bodies as a plugging cement composition, segment cement, or even as an after-applied artificial skin or coating. The cement compositions generally comprise an inorganic powder batch mixture; an organic binder; a liquid vehicle; and a gelled inorganic binder. Also disclosed are honeycomb bodies having the disclosed cement compositions applied thereto, and methods for making same.

Provided are aqueous resin solutions having unique rheologies and products incorporating the same. The water-based materials provided herein are thermo-thickening, and the materials increase dramatically in viscosity (at least 100 times) in a desired temperature range increase (20 C to <100 C) at ambient pressure. Suitable resins comprising a hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group may be selected from an epoxy resin, a phenol-formaldehyde resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic-urethane resin, a melamine resin, a melamine-formaldehyde resin, an amino resin, and combinations thereof. A specific epoxy functional resin/polymer suitable for the resin solutions are prepared by reacting (A) an epoxy pre-polymer of (1) one or more polyols and (2) one or more epoxy functional materials with (B) a di- or polyamine, thereby forming the aqueous thermo-thickening resin solution. The resin solutions are substantially free of cross-linking agents.

Provided are aqueous resin solutions having unique rheologies and products incorporating the same. The water-based materials provided herein are thermo-thickening, and the materials increase dramatically in viscosity (at least 100 times) in a desired temperature range increase (20 C to <100 C) at ambient pressure. Suitable resins comprising a hydrophobic group and a hydrophilic group may be selected from an epoxy resin, a phenol-formaldehyde resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic-urethane resin, a melamine resin, a melamine-formaldehyde resin, an amino resin, and combinations thereof. A specific epoxy functional resin/polymer suitable for the resin solutions are prepared by reacting (A) an epoxy pre-polymer of (1) one or more polyols and (2) one or more epoxy functional materials with (B) a di- or polyamine, thereby forming the aqueous thermo-thickening resin solution. The resin solutions are substantially free of cross-linking agents.

Methods of using extended-life cement compositions are disclosed. A method comprises providing an extended-life cement composition comprising calcium-aluminate cement, water, and a cement set retarder. The method additionally comprises mixing the extended-life cement composition with a cement set activator to activate the extended-life cement composition. The method further comprises Introducing the activated extended-life cement composition into a subterranean formation and allowing the activated extended-life cement composition to set in the subterranean formation; wherein the activated extended-life cement composition has a thickening time of greater than about two hours.

The present invention relates to an additive for hydraulically setting compositions, comprising a colloidally disperse preparation of at least one water-soluble salt of a polyvalent metal cation, at least one compound capable of releasing an anion which forms a sparingly soluble salt with the polyvalent metal cation, and at least one polymeric dispersant which comprises anionic and/or anionogenic groups and polyether side chains.

The present invention relates to an additive for hydraulically setting compositions, comprising a colloidally disperse preparation of at least one water-soluble salt of a polyvalent metal cation, at least one compound capable of releasing an anion which forms a sparingly soluble salt with the polyvalent metal cation, and at least one polymeric dispersant which comprises anionic and/or anionogenic groups and polyether side chains.

Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.