Temporarily plugging a subterranean reservoir with a self-foaming aqueous solution

Patent · Tue Nov 11 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6484129

Richardson, E A; Scheuerman, R F; Berkshire, D C; Reisberg, J; Lybarger, J H

Portions of a subterranean reservoir are temporarily plugged by injecting an aqueous liquid solution which contains nitrogen gas-generating reactants, a foaming surfactant and a pH controlling system arranged so that the solution remains relatively unreactive within the well but forms a relatively immobile foam within the pores or other openings within the reservoir formation. The invention provides a particularly preferred procedure for diverting a treating fluid into the normally less permeable portions of a reservoir. In that procedure, the pressure on the injected fluid is controlled to cause a preferential breaking of some or all of the foam within the most permeable openings. 10 claims.

• Assignee: Shell Oil Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4232741
• OSTI ID: 6484129
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ADDITIVES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
MIXTURES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PH VALUE
PLUGGING
RESERVOIR ROCK
SOLUTIONS
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WELL COMPLETION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS