Selective plugging of highly permeable subterranean strata by in situ gelation of polymer solutions

Patent · Tue Feb 12 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5577427

Bruning, D D

A water permeability correction process, and composition therefor, to improve the sweep efficiency of waterflooding which involves the sequential injection of an optional aqueous preflush slug to adjust connate water salinity, an aqueous thickened slug comprising a sequestered polyvalent metal cation such as aluminum citrate, a gelable polymeric viscosifier such as polyacrylamide, and a hydrolyzable-pH-adjusting ester effective for delayed decreasing of the pH of the polymer slug which triggers in situ gelation to preferentially decrease water permeability in highly permeable thief zones, and, preferably, an aqueous drive fluid.

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4498539
• OSTI ID: 5577427
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
ACRYLAMIDE
AMIDES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ESTERS
FLUID INJECTION
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PERMEABILITY
PLUGGING
PLUGGING AGENTS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
WATERFLOODING
WELLS