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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Delayed in situ crosslinking of acrylamide polymers for oil recovery applications in high-temperature formations

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5284945
This patent describes a process for plugging a region of a high-temperature hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface with a cross-linked acrylamide polymer gel wherein the formation is penetrated by a wellbore in communication with the region. The process comprising: admixing a gelation system at the earthen surface comprising an aqueous solvent, an unhydrolyzed acrylamide polymer made up of monomeric groups, and a polyvalent metal crosslinking agent. Wherein less than about 1.0 mole percent of the monomeric groups in the unhydrolyzed acrylamide polymer contain a carboxylate constituent based on the total number of the monomeric groups in the polymer. Wherein the polyvalent metal crosslinking agent is a salt or a complex of a trivalent or quatravalent metal cation capable of crosslinking a partially hydrolyzed acrylamide polymer; injecting the gelation system into the treatment region of the formation wherein the formation has a temperature of at least about 60{sup 0}C, hydrolyzing the polymer in the region at the formation temperature such that more than about 1.0 mole percent of the monomeric groups in the polymer contain a carboxylate constituent based on the total number of the monomeric groups in the polymer; and crosslinking the gelation system in the region to substantial completion to form the continuous immobile crosslinked acrylamide polymer gel which plugs at least a portion of the treatment region.
Assignee:
Marathon Oil Co., Findlay, OH
Patent Number(s):
US 4844168
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-153860A
OSTI ID:
5284945
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English