Selectively reducing the permeability of a thief zone by electroless metal plating

Patent · Tue Jun 27 04:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:6275872

Richardson, E A; Ueber, R C

In selectively plugging a thief zone within a reservoir interval, solutions for activating and effecting an electroless metal plating are injected so that most of the injected fluid enters the thief zone. The composition and amount of the plating materials are adjusted to deposit sufficient metal to reduce the permeability of the thief zone. The metal plating compound may be a polyvalent metal compound of which preferred compounds include nickel, cobalt, copper, iron compounds and mixtures, e.g., nickel and/or cobalt chloride and/or sulfate and these metal compounds are reduced by such reagents as hypophosphorous acid, hypophosphites, e.g., sodium hyposphosphite or alkaline solution of molybdenate, formate and/or hydroxy carboxylates, e.g., hydroxy-acetate. The concentration of the metal-containing compounds and the reducing agents in aqueous solutions may be varied over a wide range such as from 1 to 50%, respectively, and preferably from 5 to 40% each. (5 claims)

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3672449
• OSTI ID: 6275872
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COBALT CHLORIDES
COBALT COMPOUNDS
COBALT SULFATES
DEPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYPOPHOSPHOROUS ACID
INORGANIC ACIDS
NICKEL CHLORIDES
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL SULFATES
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
PLATING
PLUGGING
REDUCTION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WELLS