Provided is a frac plug or the like capable of being inserted into a borehole to seal the borehole with high strength, and then quickly disassembled and removed, thereby efficiently producing petroleum. A frac plug according to the present embodiment has a member made of a magnesium (Mg) alloy. The member has a multi-phase structure including a first phase, which is a matrix phase, and a second phase present in the first phase. In the multi-phase structure, the second phase is distributed in a substantially striped pattern in the first phase in a first cross section perpendicular to a second direction of the frac plug, and distributed in a substantially mesh-like pattern in the first phase in a second cross section perpendicular to a first direction of the frac plug.

Gelled fluids include a gellable organic solvent, an aluminum crosslinking compound, and a mutual solvent. The gelled fluids may be prepared by combining an aluminum crosslinking compound and a first volume of a gellable organic solvent to form a pre-solvation mixture; gelling the pre-solvation mixture to form a pre-solvated gel; combining the pre-solvated gel with a formulation fluid to form a gellable mixture, the formulation fluid comprising a second volume of the gellable organic solvent; and gelling the gellable mixture to form the gelled fluid.

A method for plugging a lost-circulation zone in a subsurface formation includes introducing a drillstem including a drilling stabilizer into a wellbore during drilling operations, the drilling stabilizer including at least stabilizer blades and a pressure sensor. Each stabilizer blade includes at least an inner chamber, a light source, and a window. The method further includes injecting a lost-circulation fluid, including a plurality of lost-circulation particles, into the wellbore. Each lost-circulation particle includes a lost-circulation additive encapsulated by a photo-sensitive coating. The method further includes measuring a pressure differential with the pressure sensor and providing a pressure signal to the light source of each stabilizer blade, thereby actuating the light source to produce a light beam, which allows the light beam to contact the photo-sensitive coatings of the lost-circulation particles to release the lost-circulation additives. The method further includes allowing the lost-circulation fluid to plug the lost-circulation zone.

A method of treating a formation, a wellbore, or equipment in a wellbore is disclosed herein. The method includes introducing a soluble abrasive material into a wellbore for various oil and gas operations. The method also includes introducing an acidic solution into the wellbore to dissolve at least a portion of the soluble abrasive material to allow for more efficient removal of the soluble abrasive material from the wellbore.

A method of sealing a well includes selecting a preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and a desired sealing location in the well to be sealed, determining, for the well to be sealed, a desired quantity of sealant having known flow qualities, to be delivered in fluid form to the well in the sealing region of the well, determining, based on the flow qualities of the sealant in fluid form and the flow qualities of the preexisting fluid pathway, the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, determining, based on the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, whether the sealant will maintain the fluid form, if necessary, change one or more qualities of the sealant so that the desired quantity of the sealant will reach the sealing location in the well while in the fluid form, and transport the quantity of sealant, in fluid form, through the preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and the desired sealing location in the well to be sealed.

This disclosure relates a method of reducing water production in a wellbore, which may include introducing an alkaline nanosilica dispersion to the wellbore such that it contacts a water producing zone of the wellbore, introducing a sodium bicarbonate activator to the wellbore such that it contacts the alkaline nanosilica dispersion in the water producing zone, and forming a gelled solid from the water shutoff material in the water producing zone, thereby reducing water production in the wellbore.

Remediation of a hydrocarbon producing well bore in a subterranean formation includes injecting fluid containing self-degrading particulates into the well bore in order to stop production of hydrocarbon from the well bore prior to commencement of remedial operations and to temporarily seal the well bore from fluid transmission between the well bore and the formation prior to commencement of the remedial operations, and commencing the remedial operations upon the well bore. Examples of the remedial operations include injecting weighted fluid into the well bore, inserting a down-hole tool into the well bore, casing treatment, annulus treatment, well bore wall treatment, cementing, and refracturing. For refracturing, the fluid containing the self-degrading particulates can be injected until a down-hole pressure exceeds a fracture breakdown pressure of new fractures that will be produced by a perforating tool lowered into the well bore.

The present invention relates to artificially reducing the porosity of any potential flow paths in the near-wellbore region of a well or in permeable zones within or surrounding a well. In doing so, the permeability in this the targeted region will be significantly reduced, thus, preventing unwanted flow of subsurface fluids. The present invention concerns a method comprising applying a first and second solution comprising scale precursors to the porous media, wherein following this application, at least a portion of the scale precursors form at least two insoluble salts. Additionally, the present invention concerns a kit of parts comprising the first and second solutions.

The present invention relates to a method for sealing and/or consolidating a subterranean formation, wherein a gelling aqueous solution comprising an alkaline solution of potassium silicate, acetic acid and an aluminate is prepared and injected into the subterranean formation.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing the viscosity of a calcium-containing fluid by addition of a modifying agent. The resulting enhanced viscosity fluid may be used in a variety of applications including drilling, to create an enhanced-viscosity fluid, and demolition/mining to create an expansive putty for use in underwater and overhead applications.