A slurry composition comprising: a base oil; a nonionic surfactant; a hydrophilic polymer; and a mixed branched alkyl organoclay composition comprising: a phyllosilicate clay; and a mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, each ion having a formula of [N—R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4].sup.+ wherein, within such mixture of quaternary ammonium ions, one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is each a mixture of branched alkyl groups, each branched alkyl group having 12 to 22 total carbon atoms, a linear backbone and one or more C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups each attached to the linear backbone at a branching carbon position, and within each quaternary ammonium ion and within the mixture of branched alkyl groups, the C.sub.1 to C.sub.3 branching alkyl groups are linked to the linear backbones at different branching carbon positions as a distribution; and wherein when one or more of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is not a branched alkyl group, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are a first linear alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, wherein R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of a second linear alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group, and combinations thereof.

Compositions and methods for prevention and reduction of iron sulfide scale formation, one method including detecting at least one component indicative of an iron sulfide scale precursor, the at least one component selected from the group consisting of: H.sub.2S; HS.sup.−; S.sup.2−; S.sub.n.sup.2−; FeS.sub.(aq); Fe.sup.2+; Fe.sup.3+, and combinations of the same; preparing a composition to react with the iron sulfide scale precursor, the composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a methylating agent; a metal operable to react with sulfide species; a compound to increase the oxidation state of Fe.sup.2+; and combinations of the same; and applying the composition to the iron sulfide scale precursor to consume the iron sulfide scale precursor.

Compositions and methods for prevention and reduction of iron sulfide scale formation, one method including detecting at least one component indicative of an iron sulfide scale precursor, the at least one component selected from the group consisting of: H.sub.2S; HS.sup.−; S.sup.2−; S.sub.n.sup.2−; FeS.sub.(aq); Fe.sup.2+; Fe.sup.3+, and combinations of the same; preparing a composition to react with the iron sulfide scale precursor, the composition comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a methylating agent; a metal operable to react with sulfide species; a compound to increase the oxidation state of Fe.sup.2+; and combinations of the same; and applying the composition to the iron sulfide scale precursor to consume the iron sulfide scale precursor.

This disclosure provides drilling fluids and additives as well as fracturing fluids and additives that contain cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals. In some embodiments, hydrophobic nanocellulose is provided which can be incorporated into oil-based fluids and additives. These water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include lignosulfonates and other biomass-derived components. Also, these water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include enzymes. The drilling and fracturing fluids and additives described herein may be produced using the AVAP® process technology to produce a nanocellulose precursor, followed by low-energy refining to produce nanocellulose for incorporation into a variety of drilling and fracturing fluids and additives.

This disclosure provides drilling fluids and additives as well as fracturing fluids and additives that contain cellulose nanofibers and/or cellulose nanocrystals. In some embodiments, hydrophobic nanocellulose is provided which can be incorporated into oil-based fluids and additives. These water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include lignosulfonates and other biomass-derived components. Also, these water-based or oil-based fluids and additives may further include enzymes. The drilling and fracturing fluids and additives described herein may be produced using the AVAP® process technology to produce a nanocellulose precursor, followed by low-energy refining to produce nanocellulose for incorporation into a variety of drilling and fracturing fluids and additives.

A method is provided involving altering the viscosity of bio-derived paraffins to produce a paraffinic fluid, where the altering step includes chlorinating the bio-derived paraffins; the bio-derived paraffins include a hydrodeoxygenated product produced by hydrodeoxygenating a bio-based feed where the bio-based feed includes bio-derived fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or a combination thereof; the bio-derived paraffins include n-paraffins; and the n-paraffins have a biodegradability of at least 40% after about 23 days of exposure to microorganisms. Also provided are methods of protecting and/or cleaning a substance by applying the paraffinic fluid.

A method is provided involving altering the viscosity of bio-derived paraffins to produce a paraffinic fluid, where the altering step includes chlorinating the bio-derived paraffins; the bio-derived paraffins include a hydrodeoxygenated product produced by hydrodeoxygenating a bio-based feed where the bio-based feed includes bio-derived fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or a combination thereof; the bio-derived paraffins include n-paraffins; and the n-paraffins have a biodegradability of at least 40% after about 23 days of exposure to microorganisms. Also provided are methods of protecting and/or cleaning a substance by applying the paraffinic fluid.

An electro-separation apparatus for separation of drilling fluids is provided. The apparatus can include a reaction chamber and a set of electrode plates provided in the reaction chamber. A sediment outlet can be provided near a bottom of the reaction chamber and wiper blades can be provided for sweeping sediment that has collected on the electrode plates towards the sediment outlet.

The disclosure includes a new test method of evaluating lost circulation prevention with expandable geopolymers. The expandable geopolymer is tested using a permeability plugging tester, slot disk, drilling fluid, and a piston to determine how much fluid is released from the test cell.

A method and systems for performing a borehole operation with a borehole fluid that includes applying an amplitude oscillation deformation force to a sample of the borehole fluid over a period of time, measuring the deformation force from the sample, determining a storage modulus of the borehole fluid over the period of time based on the measured deformation force, determining a gel strength of the borehole fluid by correlation with the storage modulus, comparing the gel strength with a desired gel strength and if the gel strength is outside of an acceptable range of the desired gel strength, adjusting a drilling parameter, a composition of the borehole fluid, or a combination thereof, and using the borehole fluid in the borehole operation. Determining the storage modulus and the gel strength may be done using a processor and the force may be applied using a piezoelectric device.