Selective plugging of formations with foam

Patent · Fri Apr 18 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:6558800

Clampitt, R L

A process for decreasing the permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation is described. There is injected into the formation an aqueous surfactant solution containing a chemically cross-linkable, water-dispersible polymer which prevents the surfactant from foaming until it is in the formation. The polymer breaks down due to heat in the formation caused by steam which is used to carry the aqueous solution into the formation. Gelled or ungelled cellulose either polymers in an aqueous surfactant solution are injected with steam into the more permeable or more depleted portions of a subterranean oil-bearing formation to produce a selective blocking due to the formation of foam in the more permeable sections of the formations, which forces the remaining injection steam to produce oil from less depleted portions of the formation. (7 claims)

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 6558800
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
CROSS-LINKING
DISPERSIONS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PLUGGING
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
STEAM INJECTION
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS