Method for forming a barrier to fluid flow in an oil formation adjacent to a producing oil well

Patent · Tue Apr 04 04:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5968286

Friedman, R H; Surles, B W

A method is described for treating an oil well to form a fluid impermeable barrier in the formation displaced from the oil well which comprises the steps of: (a) forming an aqueous resin emulsion treating fluid comprising a dispersed hydrocarbon, water and surfactant, which emulsion is susceptible to demulsification on contact with a sufficient concentration of polyvalent metal ions, the treating fluid pH being in the range of from 2 to 6; (b) introducing the resin emulsion treating fluid through the well into the formation at a predetermined injection rate, whereupon the resin emulsion begins extracting polyvalent metal ions from the formation; (c) thereafter injecting an aqueous displacement fluid into the formation to displace the treating fluid to the location in the formation where it is desired to form the barrier; (d) controlling the rate of injecting the treating fluid and displacing fluid as a function of the rate which polyvalent metal ions are removed from the formation so the level of polyvalent metal ions in the treating fluid reaches the critical concentration for precipitating hydrocarbon from the treating fluid after the treating fluid has been displaced away from the wellbore to the desire location; (e) reducing the injection rate of the aqueous displacement fluid into the well to a predetermined value for a period of time sufficient to permit the hydrocarbon to precipitate from the treating fluid, forming the fluid impermeable barrier.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4817720
• OSTI ID: 5968286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COLLOIDS
DEMETALLIZATION
DISPERSIONS
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MICROEMULSION FLOODING
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESINS
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS