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AssigneesBYK USA Inc., PQ Corporation
InventorsMichael James McDonald, Xianglian Li, Brett Howard Cramer, Kelly Paul Short
Estimating the term…
Compositions and methods are disclosed for sealing subterranean spaces such as natural or induced fractures, vugs or annular spaces. The composition is composed of a base fluid consisting of a soluble alkali silicate, a gas generating additive, water, solids, and a setting agent. The gas generating additive may be coated or uncoated. The gas generating additive may also be in the form of a slurry. In the case of coated additives, the coating may act as a retarder or an accelerator to the expansion and setting agent of the soluble alkali silica. Similarly, the choice of carrier fluid in a slurry may retard or accelerate the expansion and setting of the alkali silicate-based plug.
A method for sealing subterranean spaces comprising the step of introducing into a downhole a base fluid containing a soluble alkali silicate, a gas generating additive, a setting agent, water, and solids, whereby the soluble alkali silicate promotes a gas generating reaction wherein the gas generating additive reacts with water to produce a gas, causing the soluble alkali silicate to expand and self-pressurize in a subterranean space, thereby sealing the subterranean space.
A method for sealing a subterranean space comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.