Colloidal silica-based fluid diversion
AssigneesConoco Inc., E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsKarl E. Bennett, John L. Fitzjohn, Richard A. Harmon, Paul C. Yates, Jr.
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Abstract
A process for selectively plugging permeable zones in subterranean formations or for plugging subterranean leaks which comprises injecting into the permeable zone or the site of the subterranean leak an aqueous solution containing 1 to 70 weight percent of a non-aggregated colloidal silica sol having a particle size in the range between 4 and 100 nm and a pH in the range between about 1 and 10, and causing said solution to gel in said zone or at said site.
Claims23
A process for selectively plugging permeable zones in subterranean formations or for plugging subterranean leaks which comprises injecting into the permeable zone or the site of the subterranean leak an aqueous solution containing 1 to 70 weight percent of a non-aggregated colloidal silica sol having a particle diameter in the range between 4 and 100 nm and a PH in the range between about 1 and 10, said solution as injected having a desired gel time in said zone or at said site without the necessity of being contacted by a separately injected material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.