Methods of selectively reducing the water permeabilities of subterranean formations
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorsKenneth W. McKown, Danny Rothenberger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The water permeability and the production of salt water from a subterranean oil bearing formation is reduced by introducing a viscous aqueous polymer composition into the formation which will subsequently form a crosslinked gel therein, and thereafter introducing a hydrocarbon cement slurry into the formation.
Claims16
A method of selectively reducing the water permeability of a subterranean formation containing oil and salt water zones said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing into said oil zone a viscous aqueous polymer composition which will subsequently form a crosslinked gel;
- thereafter introducing into said oil zone a hydrocarbon cement slurry to displace at least a portion of said polymer composition from said oil zone to said salt water zone, said hydrocarbon cement slurry, when in contact with water in said salt water zone, hydrates and sets into a substantially impermeable mass;
- and
- allowing said aqueous polymer composition to crosslink and said cement to set;
- wherein said aqueous polymer composition comprises water, at least one crosslinkable polymer and a delayed crosslinking agent and
- wherein said hydrocarbon cement slurry is comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a particulate hydraulic cement having a particle size not greater than about 30 microns and a surfactant for facilitating the dispersal of said cement in said hydrocarbon liquid.
A method of selectively reducing the salt water production from a subterranean formation containing oil and salt water zones said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing into said oil zone a viscous aqueous polymer composition which will subsequently form a crosslinked gel wherein said aqueous polymer composition is comprised of water, a hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality, and a delayed crosslinking agent;
- (b) thereafter introducing into said oil zone a hydrocarbon cement slurry to displace at least a portion of said polymer composition from said oil zone to said salt after zone, said hydrocarbon cement slurry, when in contact with water in said salt water zone, hydrates and sets into a substantially impermeable mass, said hydrocarbon cement slurry being comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a particulate hydraulic cement having a particle size no greater than about 30 microns, having a Blaine Fineness of no less than about 6000 cm.sup.2 / gram, and being Portland cement or slag or a mixture thereof and a surfactant for facilitating the dispersal of said cement in said hydrocarbon liquid;
- (c) introducing a quantity of liquid hydrocarbon into said formation to displace at least a portion of said aqueous polymer composition remaining in said oil zone therefrom;
- and
- (d) allowing said aqueous polymer composition to crosslink and said cement to set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.