# US 11,028,310 B2 · Method for treating the area surrounding a well using an aqueous gelling solution comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and an acetic acid > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,310 B2 - Document ID: US11028310B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/090,858 - Filed: 2017-02-15 - Published: 2020-10-15 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Assignees: Ifp Energies Nouvelles - Applicants: IFP Energies nouvelles - Inventors: Olivier Sissmann; Marc Fleury; Michel Chardin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028310B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/426: {for plugging} - C09K 8/506: containing organic compounds - C04B 28/26: Silicates of the alkali metals - C09K 8/44: containing organic binders only - C09K 8/508: macromolecular compounds {(C09K8/512 takes precedence)} - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - E21B 41/0064: {Carbon dioxide sequestration (storing fluids in porous layers B65G5/005)} - Y02C 20/40: of CO2 - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG] ## Abstract The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of the area (10) surrounding a well (1) in which an aqueous gelling solution comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and an acetic acid is prepared and then injected into a subterranean formation. This aqueous gelling solution makes it possible, by virtue of these gelling properties, to block the area (10) surrounding the well (1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the treatment of the area surrounding a well within a subterranean formation, the well being for storage of acid gas in the subterranean formation, the process comprising: preparing an aqueous gelling solution comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and an acetic acid; and injecting the aqueous gelling solution from the well into the subterranean formation, in order to treat, within the subterranean formation, the area surrounding the well, wherein the acid gas is stored in the subterranean formation prior to injecting the aqueous gelling solution. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein preparing the aqueous gelling solution further comprises measuring one or more of porosity, permeability and surrounding pH of the subterranean formation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prepared aqueous gelling solution has a viscosity of between 1 and 10 pct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prepared aqueous gelling solution has a setting time of between 3 and 20 hours. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acetic acid has a concentration of between 0.1 and 5 mol/l. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline potassium silicate solution comprises a concentration of silicon Si of 0.5 to 7 mol/l. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the alkaline potassium silicate solution comprises a molar ratio of silicon dioxide SiO2 with respect to the potassium oxide K2O of between 0.5 and 10. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous gelling solution comprises between 1% and 30% by weight of acetic acid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising injecting a flushing fluid from the well into the subterranean formation prior to injecting the aqueous gelling solution. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising plugging the well after injecting the aqueous gelling solution. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acetic acid has a concentration of between 0.5 and 2 mol/l. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline potassium silicate solution comprises a concentration of silicon Si of 0.5 to 3 mol/l. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the alkaline potassium silicate solution comprises a molar ratio of silicon dioxide SiO2 with respect to the potassium oxide K2O of between 1 and 5. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous gelling solution comprises between 5% and 30% by weight of acetic acid. ### Claim 15 A process for treatment of an area surrounding a well in a subterranean formation that stores acid gas, the process comprising: preparing an aqueous gelling solution by combining components comprising an alkaline potassium silicate solution and acetic acid; and injecting the aqueous gelling solution through the well and into the subterranean formation that stores the acid gas, the aqueous gelling solution treating the area surrounding the well in the subterranean formation.