Aqueous gels for plugging fractures in subterranean formation and production of said aqueous gels
First Claim
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1. An aqueous gel, suitable for plugging fractures in subterranean formations, comprising water to which there has been added:
- a water-thickening amount of a water-soluble cellulose ether;
a water-soluble compound of a polyvalent metal, wherein the valence state of the metal therein is capable of being reduced to a lower polyvalent valence state, in an amount which is sufficient to cause gelation of said water containing said cellulose ether when the valence of at least a portion of said metal is reduced to said lower valence state;
a water-soluble reducing agent in an amount which is effective to reduce at least a portion of said metal to said lower valence state and cause said gelation with the formation of said gel, said reducing agent being selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, potassium hydrosulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, sodium, potassium thiosulfate, thioacetamide, hydroquinone, p-hydrazinobenzoic acid, hydrazine phosphite, hydrazine dichloride, and mixtures thereof; and
a finely divided solid capable of causing, and in an amount thereof sufficient to cause, an increase in the gel strength of said gel.
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Abstract
Aqueous gels suitable for plugging fractures in subterranean formations are produced by (1) thickening water by incorporating therein a thickening amount of a water-soluble cellulose ether (e.g.,CMC), (2) incorporating a water-soluble compound of a polyvalent metal (e.g., sodium or potassium dichromate) wherein the valence state of the metal therein is capable of being reduced to a lower polyvalent valence state, in an amount sufficient to cause gelation when the valence of at least a portion of said metal is reduced to said lower valence state, (3) incorporating a water-soluble reducing agent (e.g., a sulfite, hydrosulfite, metabisulfite or thiosulfate of sodium or potassium, sodium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide or mixtures thereof) in an amount effective to reduce at least a portion of said metal to said lower valence state and cause gelation, and (4) incorporating a finely divided solid (e.g., diatomaceous earth) in an amount sufficient to cause an increase in gel strength.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An aqueous gel, suitable for plugging fractures in subterranean formations, comprising water to which there has been added:
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a water-thickening amount of a water-soluble cellulose ether; a water-soluble compound of a polyvalent metal, wherein the valence state of the metal therein is capable of being reduced to a lower polyvalent valence state, in an amount which is sufficient to cause gelation of said water containing said cellulose ether when the valence of at least a portion of said metal is reduced to said lower valence state; a water-soluble reducing agent in an amount which is effective to reduce at least a portion of said metal to said lower valence state and cause said gelation with the formation of said gel, said reducing agent being selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, potassium hydrosulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, sodium, potassium thiosulfate, thioacetamide, hydroquinone, p-hydrazinobenzoic acid, hydrazine phosphite, hydrazine dichloride, and mixtures thereof; and a finely divided solid capable of causing, and in an amount thereof sufficient to cause, an increase in the gel strength of said gel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for producing an aqueous gel having increased gel strength, and which is suitable for plugging fractures in subterranean formations, which method comprises:
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thickening water by incorporating therein a thickening amount of a water-soluble cellulose ether; incorporating in said water a water-soluble compound of a polyvalent metal, wherein the valence state of the metal therein is capable of being reduced to a lower polyvalent valence state, in an amount which is sufficient to cause gelation of said water containing said cellulose ether when the valence of at least a portion of said metal is reduced to said lower valence state; incorporating in said water a water-soluble reducing agent in an amount which is effective to reduced at least a portion of said metal to said lower valence state and cause said gelation with the formation of said gel, said reducing agent being selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfite, sodium hydrosulfite, potassium hydrosulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, sodium sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, sodium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate, thioacetamide, hydroquinone, p-hydrazinobenzoic acid, hydrazine phosphite, hydrazine dichloride, and mixtures thereof; and incorporating in said water a finely divided solid capable of causing, and in an amount thereof sufficient to cause, an increase in the gel strength of said gel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeDrilling Specialties Co. (Phillips 66 Company)
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Original AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
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InventorsHessert, James E., Clampitt, Richard L.
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Primary Examiner(s)Lovering, Richard D.
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Application NumberUS05/489,749Time in Patent Office663 DaysField of Search252/316, 106/193 R, 106/194, 106/197 CUS Class Current252/8.05CPC Class CodesB01J 19/06 Solidifying liquids making ...C09K 8/588 characterised by the use of...C09K 8/68 containing organic compoundsC09K 8/72 Eroding chemicals, e.g. acidsC09K 8/80 Compositions for reinforcin...E21B 43/261 Separate steps of (1) cemen...
