Lanthanide-crosslinked polymers for subterranean fluid containment
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorsHoai T. Dovan, Richard D. Hutchins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polymers (and especially hydroxyethylcellulose) are crosslinked using a lanthanide as a crosslinking agent. The crosslinked polymers have utility in well completion, well stimulation, enhanced oil recovery, and subterranean fluid containment operations.
Claims19
A method for inhibiting the migration of a hazardous acid plume through a subterranean stratum, the method comprising the step of injecting into at least a portion of the acid plume a slug of a composition capable of forming a gel, the composition comprising:
- (a) a crosslinkable polymer;
- and
- (b) a lanthanide.
A method for inhibiting the migration of a hazardous acid plume through a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) injecting a slug of a composition capable of forming a gel into at least a portion of the subterranean formation not contacted by the acid plume but in the migration path of the acid plume, the composition comprising:
- (a) a crosslinkable polymer;
- and
- (b) a lanthanide;
- and
- (B) allowing the gel to inhibit the migration of the acid plume.
A system for inhibiting the migration of a hazardous acid plume, the system comprising:
- (a) an acid plume present in at least a portion of a subterranean stratum;
- (b) a well bore penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean stratum;
- and
- (c) a composition present in at least a portion of the well bore, the composition comprising:
- (a) a crosslinkable polymer;
- and
- (b) a lanthanide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.