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

Method and composition for treating subterranean formations

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6323631

This invention concerns the injection of discrete solid particles of a slowly oil-soluble, homogeneous mixture of a polymer component and a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon melting above about 120$F in the treatment of subterranean formation penetrated by a well. This solid particulate composition is insoluble in water and slowly soluble in hydrocarbon liquid, rendering the material effective as a selective temporary plugging or diverting agent, as a fluid loss additive, as a temporary propping agent and as a propping agent spacer. Wax, or alcohol melting above about 120$F can be included in the composition as an additional component of the homogeneous solid mixture. The improved technique of this invention is applicable to many important well treating processes utilized to increase the recovery of oil and gas from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, such as hydraulic fracturing, the injection of treating fluids into the formation, in secondary recovery operations, and in the completion of well bores drilled into hydrocarbon- producing permeable formations. (34 claims)

Assignee:
Union Oil Co. of California
Patent Number(s):
US 3342263
OSTI ID:
6323631
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English