Use of foam for plugging gas producing strata

Patent · Tue Sep 21 04:00:00 EDT 1965

OSTI ID:6626527

Holbrook, O C; Bernand, G C

This is a method of treating formations which produce both a gas and a liquid, to reduce the ratio of gas production without substantially diminishing the rate of production of the liquid. The process consists of interrupting production and injecting a high-foaming surfactant solution, miscible with produced fluid, in an amount sufficient to penetrate the formation from 1-10 ft radially. Production of fluid is then resumed. When production is resumed, the solution of oil and foaming agent is produced from the oil-containing strata without any effect, but contact of the gas with the solution in the gas-containing strata creates foam which retards the flow of gas to the producing wells. The surfactant is incorporated in the solution in the amount of about 0.5 to 5% by weight. Suitable oil-soluble surfactants include di-cocodimethyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures of this material with decyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, and mixtures of this material with decyltrimethyl ammonium chloride. (5 claims)

• Assignee: TUL; EDB-81-043609
• Patent Number(s): US 3207218
• OSTI ID: 6626527
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC STRATA
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
NATURAL GAS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PLUGGING
STIMULATION
SURFACTANTS
WATERFLOODING
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS