Relative permeability modifier for subterranean formation

A method of treating a water and hydrocarbon producing subterranean formation to reduce the water permeability thereof without substantially reducing the hydrocarbon permeability thereof, the method comprising:

• providing a polymer of at least one hydrophilic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer, wherein the polymer has a molecular weight in the range of from about 100,000 to about 10,000,000;
• and
• introducing the polymer into the formation whereby the polymer attaches to adsorption sites on surfaces within the porosity of the formation,
• (a) wherein the at least one hydrophilic monomer comprises N-vinyl formamide;
• (b) wherein the at least one hydrophobic monomer comprises styrene, butadiene, 1-vinylnaphthalene, or a combination thereof;
• or
• (c) both (a) and (b).

A method of treating a water and hydrocarbon producing subterranean formation to reduce the water permeability thereof, the method comprising:

• introducing into the formation a water flow resisting chemical which attaches to adsorption sites on surfaces within the porosity of the formation and reduces the water permeability thereof without substantially reducing the hydrocarbon permeability,
• wherein the water flow resisting chemical comprises a polymer of at least one hydrophilic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer:
• (a) wherein the at least one hydrophilic monomer comprises N-vinyl formamide, and wherein the at least one hydrophobic monomer comprises one or more selected from styrene, butadiene, 1-vinylnaphthalene, alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, alkyl acrylamides and alkyl methacrylamides wherein the alkyl radicals have from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;
• alkyl dimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate bromide, alkyl dimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate chloride and alkyl dimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate iodide wherein the alkyl radicals have from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;
• alkyl dimethylammonium propylmethacrylamide bromide, alkyl dimethylammonium propylmethacrylamide chloride and alkyl dimethylammonium propylmethacrylamide iodide wherein the alkyl groups have from about 4 to about 22 carbon atoms;
• from straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl alcohol esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, straight or branched alkyl or alkylaryl amides of acrylamide or methacrylamide, or a combination thereof;
• or (b) wherein the at least one hydrophobic monomer comprises styrene, butadiene, 1-vinylnaphthalene, or a combination thereof;
• and wherein the at least one hydrophilic monomer comprises N-vinyl formamide, acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, vinyl pyrrolidone, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, trimethylammoniumethyl methacrylate chloride, methacrylamide and hydroxyethyl acrylate, or a combination thereof;
• or (c) both (a) and (b).