# US 11,111,753 B2 · Polymer gel compositions for treating aqueous zones in subterranean formations and methods of treating the aqueous zones > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,753 B2 - Document ID: US11111753B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/451,793 - Filed: 2019-06-25 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-25 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Ayman Almohsin; Jin Huang; Mohammed Abdullah Bataweel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111753B2 ## CPC - C04B 28/26: Silicates of the alkali metals - E21B 33/138: Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation - C09K 8/426: {for plugging} - C09K 8/5045: {containing inorganic compounds} - C09K 8/512: containing cross-linking agents - C04B 2103/0062: {Cross-linked polymers} - 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 - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A polymer gel composition for treating an aqueous zone of a subterranean formation may include a base polymer, a cross-linking agent, and an adsorption system. The adsorption system may include one or more silane compounds or a combination of silane compounds and silicates. The adsorption system may improve bonding of the polymer gel composition to the pore surfaces of the rock in the aqueous zone. A method of treating an aqueous zone of a subterranean formation may include injecting the polymer gel composition into the aqueous zone of the formation and allowing the polymer gel composition to cure to form a cross-linked polymer gel matrix that provides a barrier that reduces or prevents the flow of aqueous materials from the aqueous zone to the wellbore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating an aqueous zone of a subterranean formation, the method comprising: injecting a polymer gel composition into at least a portion of the aqueous zone of the subterranean formation, the polymer gel composition comprising: a base polymer comprising poly[acrylamide-co-(tert-butyl acrylate)], polyacrylamide homopolymer, or poly[acrylamide-co-(tert-butyl acrylate)] and polyacrylamide homopolymer; a cross-linking agent; and an adsorption system comprising at least a silane compound; where the polymer gel composition has a viscosity of from 5 centipoise to 10 centipoise prior to injection into the aqueous zone; curing the polymer gel composition in the portion of the aqueous zone to produce a cross-linked polymer gel matrix, where the cross-linked polymer gel matrix produces a barrier that reduces or prevents aqueous materials from flowing from the aqueous zone into a wellbore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the adsorption system further comprises a silicate component selected from sodium silicate, potassium silicate, or both. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, where the polymer gel composition further comprises one or more salts selected from ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, or both. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the base polymer includes polyacrylamides, polyimide acrylates, or both. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the base polymer has an average molecular weight of from 250,000 to 500,000 grams per mole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the cross-linking agent comprises polyethyleneimine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the silane compound is an amino-silane compound having the following chemical formula (II): H2N—R1—Si(R2)3 (II) in which: R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and each R2 is independently selected from a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 10 carbons, an amine group, or an alkoxy group having general formula (—O—R3), where R3 can be a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, where at least one R2 is an alkoxy group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the silane compound comprises 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, or both. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, in which the polymer gel composition has a pH of from 9 to 14. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising injecting the polymer gel composition into the aqueous zone through the drill string, production tubing, or coiled tubing. ### Claim 11 A polymer gel composition for treating an aqueous zone of a subterranean formation, the polymer gel composition comprising: from 3 weight percent to 10 weight percent base polymer based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition, where the base polymer comprises poly[acrylamide-co-(tert-butyl acrylate)], polyacrylamide homopolymer, or poly[acrylamide-co-(tert-butyl acrylate)] and polyacrylamide homopolymer; from 0.3 weight percent to 2.0 weight percent cross-linking agent based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; from 3 weight percent to 10 weight percent silane compound based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; and the balance water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The polymer gel composition of claim 11, further comprising from 2 weight percent to 7 weight percent aqueous silicate solution based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The polymer gel composition of claim 11, where the aqueous silicate solution comprises sodium silicate, potassium silicate, or both. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The polymer gel composition of claim 11, in which the base polymer has an average molecular weight of from 250,000 to 500,000 grams per mole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The polymer gel composition of claim 11, in which the cross-linking agent comprises polyethyleneimine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The polymer gel composition of claim 11, in which the silane compound is an amino-silane compound having the following chemical formula (II): H2N—R1—Si(R2)3 (II) in which: R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and each R2 is independently selected from a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 10 carbons, an amine group, or an alkoxy group having general formula (—O—R3), where R3 can be a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, where at least one R2 is an alkoxy group. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The polymer gel composition of claim 12, in which the silane compound comprises 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, or both. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The polymer gel composition of claim 12, where an initial viscosity of the polymer gel composition is from 5 centipoise to 10 centipoise at surface atmospheric conditions and before cross-linking of the polymer gel composition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The polymer gel composition of claim 12, in which the polymer gel composition comprises from 5 weight percent to 10 weight percent of the silane compound based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The polymer gel composition of claim 12, in which the polymer gel composition consists essentially of: from 3 weight percent to 10 weight percent the base polymer based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; from 0.3 weight percent to 2.0 weight percent the cross-linking agent based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; from 3 weight percent to 10 weight percent the silane compound based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; optionally from 2 weight percent to 7 weight percent aqueous silicate solution based on the total weight of the polymer gel composition; and the balance water.