To control hydrostatic backpressure of disposal wells connected to a disposal plant surface network, density of water to be injected from a water disposal plant system into disposal wells formed in a subterranean zone, a density of a hydrostatic backpressure-modifying additive to modify a density of the water, a target total injection flow rate of the water, and a vertical depth of a portion of the subterranean zone through which the water is to be injected are identified. Injected water flow rate upstream of an injection point into the multiple disposal wells, wellhead injection pressure needed to achieve the target total injection flow rate and a total injection rate are periodically received. Based on these parameters, dosage rate of the additive to maintain the target total injection flow rate is periodically determined. An additive quantity is injected into the water and periodically modified based on the periodically determined dosage rate.

A wellbore fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles suspended in the aqueous base fluid. The nanoparticles are present in the wellbore fluid in an amount effective to have an effect of increasing the density by at least 0.2 lb/gal.

A process for forming a particle carrier system includes supplying a particle carrier, the particle carrier having a surface and modifying the particle carrier surface to include a first ionic functional group. The process also includes chemically binding the first ionic functional group on the particle carrier surface to a first ionic molecule.

A water treatment apparatus, system and method including introducing an aqueous fluid into a chamber, the aqueous fluid having a pH below 7 and having an oxidizing agent. Contacting, within the chamber, the aqueous fluid with a corrodible sacrificial material which oxidizes in the presence of the oxidizing agent also reducing the oxidizing agent. Thereafter, adjusting, subsequent contacting the corroding particulate, the pH of the aqueous fluid to above 7.

Provided are compositions and methods of using a liquid suspension of hollow particles comprising a plurality of hollow particles, water, a suspending aid, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant, a latex, an oleaginous fluid, porous silica, and combinations thereof. The liquid suspension is homogenous. An example method includes statically storing the liquid suspension in a container for at least one week; wherein the liquid suspension maintains a difference in density from the top of the container to the bottom of the container of less than one pound per gallon while stored. The method further includes adding the liquid suspension to a treatment fluid; wherein the liquid suspension reduces the density of the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation.

A wellbore fluid including a first surfactant, a second surfactant, an activator and an aqueous base fluid is provided. The first surfactant has a structure represented by Formula (I):

##STR00001##

where Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2, Y.sub.3, Y.sub.4 are each, independently, a sulfonate, a carboxylate, an ester or a hydroxyl group, m is an integer ranging from 2 to 3, and n, o, and k are each, independently, integers ranging from 2 to 10. The second surfactant has a structure represented by Formula (III):

##STR00002##

where R.sub.2 is a C.sub.15-C.sub.27 hydrocarbon group or a C.sub.15-C.sub.29 substituted hydrocarbon group, R.sub.3 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 hydrocarbon group, and p and q are each, independently, an integer ranging from 1 to 4. A method of using the wellbore fluid for treating a hydrocarbon-containing formation is also provided.

The subject invention provides microbe-based products, as well as their use to improve oil production and refining efficiency by, for example, remediating the disposable layers in oil tanks and other oil storage units. In preferred embodiments, the microbe-based products comprise biochemical-producing yeast and growth by-products thereof, such as, e.g., biosurfactants. The subject invention can be used to remediate rag layer and/or other dissolved solid layers that form in water-oil emulsions. Furthermore, the subject invention can be used for remediating solid impurities, such as sand, scale, rust and clay, in produced water, flow-back, brine, and/or fracking fluids.

The subject invention provides microbe-based products, as well as their use to improve oil production and refining efficiency by, for example, remediating the disposable layers in oil tanks and other oil storage units. In preferred embodiments, the microbe-based products comprise biochemical-producing yeast and growth by-products thereof, such as, e.g., biosurfactants. The subject invention can be used to remediate rag layer and/or other dissolved solid layers that form in water-oil emulsions. Furthermore, the subject invention can be used for remediating solid impurities, such as sand, scale, rust and clay, in produced water, flow-back, brine, and/or fracking fluids.

During fracking processes, fluid is injected into the injection wells to cause micro-fractures in the shale. Contact between shale and water causes the development of micro-fractures. Given the deep location of the injection wells, the water is under high pressure that can build up over time and could potentially cause tremors. Based upon experiments on Pierre shale, it has been determined that the appearance of micro-fractures in shale begin with the saturation of capillaries, followed by ionic and diffusive transport of water into the shale clays. Using this discovery, a method for predicting the post-fracking pressure build-up in shale is disclosed.

A method of increasing recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs, and particularly from those located in tight formations, is disclosed. One aspect includes calculating the in situ fractured formation wettability from real-time measurement of flowback volume and composition. Another aspect includes determining the composition of the fracturing fluid, the overflush or both, that will achieve higher liquid hydrocarbon recovery by increasing the water wettability of rock surfaces within the reservoir. Monitoring of rock-surface wettability through flowback volume and composition profiles allows the above mentioned injectates to be adjusted in the field to achieve maximal recovery. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed.