Selective wellbore isolation using buoyant ball sealers

Patent · Tue Feb 13 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:7127080

Cooke, Jr, C E; Gruesbeck, C Jr; Muecke, T W

A method is described for using ball sealers as a diverting agent when treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well provided with casing having perforations at several levels. Ball sealers sized to plug a perforation, a first fluid having a density greater than the ball sealers and a second fluid less dense than the ball sealers, are introduced into the casing concurrently or in any order. The amount of the first fluid introduced should be sufficient to fill the lower portion of the casing to a level between the lower perforations to be plugged and the upper perforations to be left open to fluid flow. Once the ball sealers are disposed below the upper perforations, treating fluid is injected into the casing to cause a flow of the second fluid through the lower perforations to carry the ball sealers down the casing to plug the lower perforations and to cause fluid flow through the upper perforations which the ball sealers did not plug. 16 claims.

• Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4139060
• OSTI ID: 7127080
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
42 ENGINEERING
422000 -- Engineering-- Mining & Underground Engineering-- (1980-)
DENSITY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
PERFORATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEALING MATERIALS
WELL CASINGS
WELL COMPLETION
WELLS
WORKING FLUIDS