A method for treating a subterranean formation with a foamed system is disclosed. The method includes introducing a fracturing fluid into the formation. The fracturing fluid includes a first solution and a second solution. The first solution includes an ammonium containing compound. The second solution includes a nitrite containing compound. One or both of the solutions further include a foaming agent. The solutions are mixed within the formation to generate a nitrogen gas. The method further includes, allowing the compounds to generate nitrogen in the presence of the foaming agent to form a foam and generate the foamed system within the formation. Generation of the foamed system produces sufficient pressure from volumetric expansion to generate fractures in the formation. The fractures are held open with a proppant provided with the fracturing fluid to create a conductive path for production of fluids from the formation to the wellbore.

Methods for treating a subterranean formation using treatment fluids including a weakly emulsifying surfactant are provided. In one or more embodiments, the methods include introducing a first treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a weakly emulsifying surfactant into a first wellbore penetrating at least a first portion of a subterranean formation; and introducing a second treatment fluid into a second wellbore penetrating at least a second portion of the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures extending from the second wellbore into the subterranean formation.

Systems and methods for rapidly assessing biocide contamination and biological contamination treatments found in fluids used for subterranean well treatments and related operations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include providing a fluid including an aqueous base fluid and one or more microorganisms; introducing a first sample of the fluid to a first culture device including an indicator reagent, wherein over a period of about 48 hours or less the indicator reagent indicates a first color change in the first sample of the fluid; and determining a first count of the microorganisms in the fluid based, at least in part, on the first color change.

Methods of employing corrosion inhibitors with oxidizing and/or non-oxidizing biocides, such as peroxycarboxylic acids, to provide corrosion protected compositions are disclosed. Various corrosion inhibitors further provide biocidal efficacy in addition to the corrosion protection providing further benefits for application of use. Methods of employing corrosion protected biocide compositions, such as peroxycarboxylic acid compositions, for corrosion protection are particularly well suited for treating fluids intended to flow through pipes, namely in the energy industry, water and paper industries, etc. Methods providing suitable corrosion protection in comparison to untreated systems and corrosion protected systems using conventional corrosion inhibitors, such as quaternary amines and imidazolines commonly used in the industry, are disclosed.

A synergistic microbicidal composition comprising a hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound and nitrate, a method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in an aqueous medium.

Products and processes that are related to phosphonated polysaccharide compositions, including phosphonated polysaccharide gels, having a substituent degree of substitution with a lower limit of 0.02 and an upper limit of 3, and having a weight average molecular weight with an upper limit of 5,000,000 g/mole, as well as to oil field application or fracturing fluid compositions comprising such phosphonated polysaccharide compositions.

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for simultaneously enhancing oil recovery, improving the quality of oil and gas through reduction in sulfur-containing compounds, and preventing and/or reducing corrosion of oil and gas production equipment. A multi-functional composition is provided comprising an antimicrobial biosurfactant component, a first ammonium salt, and ammonium hydroxide. In some embodiments, the efficiency of the composition is further enhanced by the addition of a chelating agent, a phenol (e.g., carbolic acid or phenolic acid), and/or an H.sub.2S scavenger. In some embodiments, the composition is further enhanced for use in cold climates by the addition of an antifreeze mixture comprising one or more of a second ammonium salt, sodium chloride and glycerol.

A well treatment fluid composition that includes a tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salt and at least one oxidizing viscosity breaker. Methods for preparing a microbial viscosity breaker composition and treating a subterranean formation are also presented.

A method for reducing the effects of biological contamination in a hydrocarbon-containing system comprising the steps of continuously adding a formulation comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt to the system for one day or more; monitoring the efficacy of the continuous treatment by an assessment of the extent to which there is any effect on the environment that is attributable to metabolic activity of active microbes present in the system; wherein the tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt is added at a concentration of from 1 to 30 ppm based on the total volume of aqueous fluid added to the system, and wherein the formulation is added to the system at a stage to minimize incompatibility with any other chemicals that are added to the aqueous fluid. The treatment disrupts the microbial activity of active microbes in the hydrocarbon-containing system and can prevent or reduce detrimental effects arising from the presence of active microbes in the system.

A method of treating mineral slurries to inhibit bacterial growth includes adding an effective amount of one or more of sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate or methylammonium monomethyldithiocarbamate to the mineral slurry to inhibit bacterial growth.