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

Sand control agent and process

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6455487

A method is described for forming a consolidated gravel pack in a washed-out interval adjacent to a borehole in an unconsolidated or loosely consolidated formation comprising: (a) perforating a cased borehole at an interval of the formation having a washed-out interval adjacent said borehole; (b) placing sand into said washed-out interval via perforations in the borehole; (c) injecting an aqueous silicate solution into said interval through perforations contained in the borehole which silicate is of a strength sufficient to react with a water-miscible organic solvent containing an alkylpolysilicate and a member of the group consisting of an inorganic salt, organic salt, or chelated calcium thereby forming a permeability retentive cement where said aqueous silicate is selected from a member of the group consisting of alkali metal silicate, organoammonium silicate, or ammonium silicate; (d) injecting next a spacer volume of water-immiscible hydrocarbonaceous liquid into said zone; and (e) injecting thereafter a water-miscible organic solvent containing an alkylpolysilicate and said group member into said interval in an amount sufficient to react with the aqueous silicate so as to form a silicate cement with permeability retentive characteristics whereupon the interval is consolidated in a manner sufficient to form a gravel pack thereby preventing sand from being produced from the formation during the production of hydrocarbonaceous fluids.

Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., Fairfax, VA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5222557
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-810585
OSTI ID:
6455487
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English