Using colloidal silica as isolator, diverter and blocking agent for subsurface geological applications
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsWilliam L. Bourcier, Sarah K. Roberts, Jeffrey J. Roberts, Souheil M. Ezzedine, Jonathan D. Hunt
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Abstract
A system for blocking fast flow paths in geological formations includes preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase. The solution of colloidal silica is injected into the geological formations while the solution of colloidal silica is in the nonviscous phase. The solution of colloidal silica is directed into the fast flow paths and reaches the solid gel phase in the fast flow paths thereby blocking flow of fluid in the fast paths.
Claims27
A method of blocking flow in fast flow paths in a geological formation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the geological formation while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase, and
- directing said solution of colloidal silica into the fast flow paths whereupon said solution of colloidal silica reaches said solid gel phase in the fast flow paths thereby blocking flow of fluid in the fast flow paths.
A method of improving efficiency of production from underground formations wherein the underground formations have fast paths for flow of production fluid and other paths for flow of the production fluid, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the underground formations while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase, and
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the fast paths and reach said solid gel phase thereby blocking the flow of the production fluid in the fast paths and diverting the flow of the production fluid into the other paths.
A method of improving efficiency of production from a geothermal formation wherein the geothermal formation has fast paths for flow of geothermal fluid and other paths for flow of the geothermal fluid, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the geothermal formation while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the fast paths and reach said solid gel phase thereby blocking the flow of the geothermal fluid in the fast paths and diverting the flow of the geothermal fluid into the other paths.
A method of improving efficiency of production from a primary geothermal formation using colloidal silica as a cementing agent to preferentially reduce permeability in zones proximate the primary geothermal formation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the zones proximate the primary geothermal formation while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the zones proximate the primary geothermal formation thereby blocking the zones proximate the primary geothermal formation and improving efficiency of production from the primary geothermal formation.
A method of improving efficiency of production from an oil bearing formation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the oil bearing formation while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the oil bearing formation thereby improving efficiency of production from the oil bearing formation.
A method of improving efficiency of a subsurface reservoir used for storage of carbon dioxide, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the subsurface reservoir used for storage of carbon dioxide while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the oil bearing formation thereby improving efficiency of the subsurface reservoir used for storage of carbon dioxide.
A method of blocking leaks from a storage tank in an earth formation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the earth formation,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the earth formation thereby blocking leaks from the storage tank.
A method of cementing a pipe in a borehole in a formation, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution of colloidal silica having a nonviscous phase and a solid gel phase,
- injecting said solution of colloidal silica into the borehole while said solution of colloidal silica is in said nonviscous phase,
- allowing said solution of colloidal silica to flow into the borehole thereby cementing a pipe in a borehole in a formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.