High temperature stable gels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer and (ii) water;
(B) injecting a crosslinking agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and
(C) injecting a stabilizing amount of a buffering agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the buffering agent having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8 and being selected from the group consisting of water soluble bicarbonate salts, carbonate salts, phosphate salts, and mixtures thereof,wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
F.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Gels stable in a subterranean formation at a temperature greater than about 175° F. are formed using, inter alia, a stabilizing agent (e.g., a buffer having a buffering capacity at a pH of at least about 8 and/or a chelating agent).
151 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer and (ii) water; (B) injecting a crosslinking agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (C) injecting a stabilizing amount of a buffering agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the buffering agent having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8 and being selected from the group consisting of water soluble bicarbonate salts, carbonate salts, phosphate salts, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
F. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 33)
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- 14. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the step of injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (A) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a corsslinkable polymer, (B) a crosslinking agent, (C) water, and (D) a stabilizing amount of a buffering agent having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8 and selected from the group consisting of water soluble bicarbonate salts, carbonate salts, phosphate salts, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
- 19. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the step of injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (A) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer, (B) a crosslinking agent, (C) hard water, and (D) a buffering agent having a buffering capacity at a pH of at least bout 8 and selected from the group consisting of water-soluble bicarbonate salts, carbonate salts, phosphate salts, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
- 28. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the step of injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (A) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of a water soluble, crosslinkable polymer selected from the group consisting of polymethacrylamides, polyacrylamides, acrylic acid acrylamide copolymers, and acrylic acid-methacrylamide copolymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer selected from the group consisting of polymethacrylamides, polyacrylamides, acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymers, and acrylic acid-methacrylamide copolymers, (B) a crosslinking agent, (C) hard water, and (D) a chelating agent, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
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38. A recovery system comprising:
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(a) a subterranean formation at a temperature of at least about 175°
F.;(b) a well penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (c) a gel located in at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the gel comprising; (i) a crosslinked polymer; (ii) hard water; and (iii) a buffering agent having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8 and selected from the group consisting of water soluble bicarbonte salts, carbonate salts, phosphate salts, and mixtures thereof.
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39. A recovery system comprising;
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(a) a subterranean formation; (b) a well penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (c) a gel located in at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the gel comprising; (i) an organic crosslinking agent corsslinked polymer; (ii) water; and (iii) a chelating agent.
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40. A recovery system comprising:
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(a) a subterranean formation; (b) a well penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (c) a composition located in at least a portion of the well, the composition comprising; (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer; (ii) hexamethylenetetramine; (iii) hard water; and (iv) a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of buffering agents having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof.
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41. A recovery system comprising;
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(a) a subterranean formation; (b) a well penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (c) a composition located in at least a portion of the well, the composition comprising; (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer; (ii) an organic crosslinking agent; (iii) water; and (iv) a chelating agent.
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42. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of polymethacrylamides, polyacrylamides, acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymers, and acrylic acid methacrylamide copolymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer selected from the group consisting of polymethacrylamides, polyacrylamides, acrylic acid-acrylamide copolymers, and acrylic acid-methacrylamide copolymers and (ii) water; (B) injecting a crosslinking agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (C) injecting a stabilizing amount of a stabilizing agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the stabilizing agent being selected from the group consisting of buffering agents having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
F. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable monomers capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer and (ii) water; (B) injecting an organic crosslinking agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation; and (C) injecting a stabilizing amount of stabilizing agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the stabilizing agent being selected from the group consisting of buffering agents having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
F. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for forming a gel in at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the method comprising the steps of:
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(A) injecting a composition into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the composition comprising (i) an ingredient selected from the group consisting of water soluble, crosslinkable polymers and polymerizable momoner capable of forming a crosslinkable polymer and (ii) water; (B) injecting an inorganic crosslinking agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the inorganic crosslinking agent being selected from the group consisting of polyvalent metals, chelated polyvalent metals, and compounds capable of yielding polyvalent metals; and (C) injecting a stabilizing amount of a stabilizing agent into at least a portion of the subterranean formation, the stabilizing agent being selected from the group consisting of buffering agents having a buffering capacity at a pH greater than about 8, chelating agents, and mixtures thereof, wherein the subterranean formation is at a temperature of at least about 175°
F. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60)
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Specification