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Title: Recovery system containing lanthanide-crosslinked polymers

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6428094

A recovery system is described comprising: (a) a subterranean formation; (b) a well bore penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (c) a composition capable of forming a gel present in at least a portion of the well bore, wherein the composition comprises: (i) a crosslinkable polymer (CP) selected from the group consisting of heteropolysaccharides obtained by the fermentation of starch-derived sugar, ammonium salts, and alkali metal salts; (ii) a lanthanide; and (iii) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of gel breakers, sequestering agents, proppants for use in hydraulically fracturing, particulate agents for forming a gravel pack, and base precursors selected from the group consisting of ammonium slats, urea, thiourea, and mixtures of these. A second recovery system is described in which the gel composition comprises: (i) a CP selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymers, acrylic acid-methacrylamide copolymers, polyacrylamides, polymethacrylamides, partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides, partially hydrolyzed polymethacrylamides, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkyleneoxides, lignosulfonates, ammonium salts, alkali metal salts, and alkaline earth salts of lignosulfonates; and (ii) a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, sequestered lanthanides, and mixtures thereof. A third system is described in which the gel composition comprises: (i) a CP, hydroxyethylcellulose; and (ii) a crosslinking agent selected from the group consisting of lanthanides, sequestered lanthanides, and mixtures thereof. A fourth system is described in which the gel composition comprises: (i) a CP selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyalkyleneoxides, lignosulfonates, ammonium salts, alkali metal salts, and alkaline earth salts of lignosulfonates; and (ii) a lanthanide.

Assignee:
Union Oil Co., Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5226480; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-842238
OSTI ID:
6428094
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 26 Feb 1992
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English