Use of degradable ball sealers to seal casing perforations in well treatment fluid diversion

Patent · Tue Jan 05 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5339987

Erbstoesser, S R; Cooke, Jr, C E; Sinclair, R G; Epstein, M M

A method of plugging the perforations in a casing which has been set in a wellbore which penetrates a subterranean formation is described comprising: (a) flowing down the casing a wellbore fluid having dispersed therein a plurality of ball sealers, the ball sealers being sized to seal the perforations and being comprised of a polyester polymer which is substantially insoluble in the wellbore fluid and degradable in the presence of water at the formation temperature to oligomers which are at lest partially soluble in a formation fluid, and (b) continuing the flow of the wellbore fluid until at least a portion of the perforations are sealed by the ball sealers.

• Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co., Houston, TX
• Patent Number(s): US 4716964
• OSTI ID: 5339987
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ESTERS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERFORATION
PLUGGING
PLUGGING AGENTS
POLYESTERS
POLYMERS
SEALS
WELL CASINGS
WELLS