Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ,~,? ~ J !l
57S7.s
~?. F~
~*la~L~ca~
Thi~ applica~ion i~: a continUa~ion-i.n-par~ o~ Se~ial No.
29~, 795 whi~h WAE~ ed on Janu~ry 3, ~9 . I'c i~ so r~lat~d
tD .5erial No. 2~2,8qs whi~h wa~ d on Janua~y 3, 198~.
~h~
Th~s invention rel~e~ to t:lle U~Q ~:E temp~ratur~ ac:tivated
g~l~ that can ~e us~d fc~r prs:~llo ~ont~ol a~r a ~e~m flood ~o
thak increa~;ed amoun~s of hydr~ca~on~oUs ~luLds oan b~
ob~inetl ~o~ a ste~m und~r~wep~ zc~ne in ~ ~orm~tlon.
B~p~ ~ of_th~ I nV~n~
~ n ~ho re~ ry of o~l ~rom oil-aon~alning Xo~mationE;, i~ i~
usually E~ ible to re~over ~nly ~ninor porti~n~; o~ the original
ol~in-pl~ae l~y 6D~c~llod prima~y ~ecovery mQ~hods whiah u~ilixe
only natur~l Por~ D ina~ea~ ~h3 reco~ry oP oil a v~ie~y
~ ~upplementa~y recovery teah~iyu~ are en)~yed. The~e
techniqu~6 lnclu~e wa~cerf loodiny, m~aible floodir~g, and ther~l
recov~ry.
A pr~blem thAt arisQ~ ln v~xiou~ ~looding proaes~e~ i~ th~c
dl~erent ~t~ta or zone~ in the re~ oi~ o~en p~
diP~sren~ perme~abill~s, 'rhu~, di.epl~ain~ f~uid~ enter high
p~ abil~ty or "thief" ~one~ in px~Rfer~ncs to zcms~s o~ lower
~eabill'cy. s~gn~ ant quAn~iti~ o~ oll m~y bQ left in zhne~
o~ w~r pe~meabllity. ~o ~ircum~nt this dlP~lc~lty l:h~
~e~hnique o~ pro~ control 1~ ap~ d to plu~ ~he high
perm~ab~ llty 7.0ne~ with polynle~ia ~el~ and thu~ divert t~e
2 ~J~ 3 h
displac~rlg ~luid into l:h~ ~JIda~wep'c low pe~cm~ ity, oil rich
zones, A~n~ng the pc,lym~x~ ex~mlned ~or imp~P~ins~ w~ter100cl
con~cxm~n~e ar~ ~net~l cro~ link~3d poly~aah~rid~s, m~al
aros~ n~etd poly~o;rylam~e~, and t~r~ania-¢xo~sl1nked
pol~ r~laLni~e~
Pc\lymsrla ~els are: di~3clo~Qd in ~eve~l U. s . pAtan~S. ~mong
~h~Y~ 5. Patent N~, 4 ,157, 32~ whlch i~ue~ ~o Coleqrove on
JunB 5, 1979. rrhi~ gr31 i~ fc)rm~d ~rom w~t:e~, a poly~ h~ride
polymer, ~n a~id ~en~aratlng ~alt arld a mel~minia res~n.
polymeric g~ clo~ed in U.S. I~a~en1: ~o. ~,65B,~s~ which
i~ued ~o P~ul e~ al1 on .~.pril 21, 1~7. This patent dlsclc~e~
an aq~ou~; ~o~U~icn o~ he~R~op~ly~ har~de S-130 ::omb~n~d wi~h
~lDns C1~ ba~$c organ~c: compoundf~ which catiorl~; cont~ined at
l~st two posl~lvely char~ed cen~csrs~. U.S. Paten~ No. 4,71~,9~6,
is~ued to Shu on January 5, 1~8, di~lo~e~ a gel ~oxmed ky amino
re~in~ ~uoh ~ melamln~ ~02~n~ld~3hyde which modi~y biopolym~r~ in
c:omb~n~t:ion with ~ran~itional mQtal ion~. Th~3 pat~nt~ axe
hex~by inc~rpor~ted by ref~enc~ hexein.
Bzlsla ~o th~ pr~ n o~ er~ing di~pla¢ing ~luld wit~
p~lymeria ~el~ is ~he nR~ ity o~ plac~.ng ~h~ polymer whe~e it
i~ na~d~}, i.o. ln the hign permoa}: ility ~n~ . Thi~ i~ po~sible
wh~n Xanthan ~lopolymer~ ~r~ c:ro~s-llnk~d wL~h met~ n~ ~u~h
~3 abcl~rQ ~ro~nd t~ iVQ gelB. The~e ~}e~ ar~ sha2~r ~t~b~e elnd
~ear thlnnir~ hey c:an be ln~ ~c'c6~d into t~ ~orma'clon 6~1her~
~hay the3~ rehQal. I~Ue to th~ gel ~ rh~olo~ical propertles, ~hey
will of nec~ity qo into high p~r~ bil iky æone~ owever, nlany
c~the~ gel ~y~temEa ~r~ form~d in~ . One ~:y~t~m di~lo~ed ln
U.S~ Patent 3,~57,5~2 contain~ a~ryl~mide monom~r,
m~thylen~-bi~-acr~lamlde as àn org~ni~ croE~ ink~r, and a ~re~
radi~al init~at~. T~ y~tem under~aes polymerl.~atio~ ln ~he
~or~tlon tD ylv8 ~ poly~c~ylamide cro~s-link~d ~ith
- 2 w
~ ,'? '~ ? L~
m~thylena-bi~;~a¢rylamide~ ~wever, ~h~ os.lty ~ thç~ G~lu~ion
w~en inj eated ~ ce t~a~ o~ wat~ . Unl~s~ mec~h~ni~ qtion
i~ u~sd, ~he~3e ~olutl~n~ a~3 qU~ pa~ o~ pen~tra~ing lo~
permeabllity, o~l b~a~ing z~ne~ noth~2~ f~nn o~ tn~ u
~atlon involve~ ~hs in~e~ n of p~ cr~lamid~ ~nntaining
ahxomium ; n tlle ~or~n oP chromate . )~ dll~in~ aqen~ such a~
thloUrQ~ or ~c~dium thlo~U~ t~ ~ a al~o inj eGte~ to reduae ~che
¢hroma~e ~n~E~itu ~o C~r~3, ~ ~pecie,s capalble o~ oro~G-llnking
hydr~ly~ad polyaorylamid~. Ev~ thc)ugh ~c~e pol~a~ryl~nide
801U~i 9n ha~ 05ity gre~tex th~n wat~r, it 1~ not c:apabl~ oL
~hc~win~ the ~electlvity tl~t ~ qel can~ ~hus, PO~Q~rY1a~nide8
aroEIs~linke~ w:Lth chronlium in~ u c:an al;o go in'c-:~ low
p~ aabllity ~ont3~ ie not uE~ ul to ~ro~ llnX
polyac~ryl~mid~e above g~:ound and in~ ~a~ khem a3 g01 s, b~¢~u~2
po~ya~rylamide ~el~ unde~gc~ shear degr~dA~lon~ There are ~3r~
~ew g~ h~t are sele~va and th~rmally ~tabla.
:~n addltion tc~ the ~r~Htion o ~Ithie~ z~ne~ durin~ a
wat:elr~l~odln~ ~eCo~rRry toahni~, steam flo~diT)g o~ m
~t:imu~ion proce~ r~3ate ~ unique ~i~uat ~ on in a ~ormatlon
which i~ ~ravity o~rex~ride due to the ~'ce~m ' B low d(3nBi~y~
B~a~u~e o f the s~Ram ~ ~ low den~ y, ~chel ~.wRep path o~ the E;~e~m
1~ ~her~ore bi~E~ed toward~ the ~op o~ th~ p~yzon~. ThU~, ~h~
area im ad~d by tho ov~rricle~ eam may o~ m~y not be o~ low
permeability. Alt~ou~h s~eam pr~f~renkiall~ enter~ ~ hi~h
per~e~bill~ hl~f zone, thæ hlgh ~mp~ ur~ o~ th~ ~t~m
wlll ~1~3o remove hydr~ rbonaaec~u6: ~luida ~rc~m~ por~ion~ o~ lo~
pRrme~bilLt~ zone~ thQ dl~k~nc~ incs~e~q~; ~xom ~eaad entry
lnto the~ ~or~atiPn~ th~ t~mperature will decr~A~o. A8 long as
tl~o temperatur~ i~; hot enou~h hyc~roaarbonac~vu~ flUlds wlll b~
rsmoved from the "thie~1~ zon~ a~ w~ portion~ oP l~w
perm~ablli~ ~ona~.
When ~ rn haF; brok.en ~hrough 'GO a proc~uc~i~n l~ell during a
s~e~mPlo~d, a he~tec~ p~ ion o~ dch~ for~na~.ion will communicate
witl~ an i.n~ct~r we~l. Th~E~ h~ d p~rtiorl may include por~on~
~t' bo~'ch high ~nd l~w p~nee~ y ~eam override zc~nes. Fo~ this
reaE3on, a gel ~yEIt~am w~liah ~an ~el~c~ rel~ ~nter a hlgh
p~rm~ y "~hie~ zone may no~ en'c~r e~ low perme~b$11ty ~one.
Tl~u~, a ~t~e ~leat~e ~el m~y no~ preven~ s~e~m ~rom entaring
lnto ~ hea~6~d low permeabili~y zon~3 whl~h has beell depl~ted of
hydrDc!arbonaceou~ d~.
Th~3xefore, what 1B n0eded 1~; a me~hc~d ~f 2~or~nin~ a ~ol~d gel
in ~rea~3 of ~ m~ iple produck~e zone ~orm~tion which ax~e~s have
b~n hea~ed to 21 t~i3mperel~urf3 above 300DF BO as to minlml~e well
r~~o~plet~ons .
~L~
q~h~ ~ invent.ion is ~Ir~ted tc3 ~ me~hod for minimizing w~ll
recomple~lotl~ in a hydroc:arbonaceou: ~lui~ antainin~ form~ n
having ~nultipl* produc~ive int~ An upp~ pr~ductlvQ
int~rval i~ hRatad to a t~mpe~r~ uro ln exce~ o~ abou'c 300F.
PreP~rably ~ ~aam ~la~d enhanc~3~3 oi~ recovery me~hod 1~ u~ o
h~at tha upper p~oductlve ~one. Th~ upper produc1:ivQ zon~ is
p~n~trated bsr ~lu~dly ~ommunlcat~ng inj6~cltor and produ~3er w~
~he~e w~lls ax~ n~t petfox~at~d ~t ~ lower ln~e~l arld dD no~
fl~dly ~ nuni~ate with each otller.
Wh4~n ~tQ~ r~akthrough occU~ at th~ p~oductlon w~ n~ a
te~npar~ture in ~3xa~ o~ about 3 00 ~ F i~ reach~d in the upp~r
produc~iv~ zone, ~ .m lnjec~ion 1~ ce~ d. A~'cerw~rd~
tomp~atur~ ac~ivated g~lla?~le c~mpo~it1on i5 inj~ct~d into sald
uppe~ prDduatl~6l interv~l 'ch~ough both th~ tn~ectc3r anù producer
w~lls. He~e it ~or~n~ a ~lid gel 'chereby blool~in~ said upper
p~oductlv~ rval to ~luld ~low.
~1 lb:~ FI~UI'I llOBIL FFI!R n~s CC1111~ 10 ~ 1613563g86g P.08
,~ a ~
Th~re,af~r, ~he ln~6~c~or ~nd prc~cluce:~ w~lls ar~ per~ora~d
a~ a lowar produa~ 3 ln~rval ~ A~; ~0 Al10W l!o~ ~luit3,
oo~muni~at~on b~w~nn sai~ w~ n~ id w~ h~ve beon
~eaompl~ed at ~he ~oWer produc~v~ e~ , a ~am-Plooùlng
enhana3~ r~cclvery opelr~tion 1~ ~ommenaed ln~ aid lDw~r
pro~ucti~ in~ral to rsmove hyAruo~bonacs~ouE~ ~luid~ thsrs~rom.
'rh~ llab~e compD~;~ti~n u~iliz~ hor<~in fo~m~ a ~l~id ~olid
~ol upc~n re~hinsJ a temper~ure o~ abou~ 3so~F to aboutc ~sO~F ln
th~ uppex producc~v~ lnt~2tl. The ~e~ble o~npo~lon con~aln~
~ wa~ar disperEl~le polym~3r, ~n ~ld*hyd~ con~aini~g compDund
whi~h daa~mpo~ee ~o yield ~ malduhyde, and a l?h~nolic c~mpound.
Upon r~ahlng ~ activ~inq tempe~a~ure the~ ~yal~c dlmor
d~:OmpO8Q~ tD ~ield an aldehyde which in ~urn rQZ~Clt~ with th~
ph~nolla ~ompound to ~orm phonolic re6:in, ~h~ ge~an~, ~n ~ u.
~he~Q~ r, ~hl3 phenoli~ resin g~ th~ p~lymer thereby fc~rming a
rigid ~el.
~ hl~ rlgld gel r~dua~ 'che~ tr~n m~ ility o~
hydro~bonac:~ou~ ~luld~ ~hrou~h ~che upp~r px~ductiv~ in~rvaL.
In adclit~n tD reducin$~ the 'cran~mi~:ibili~y o~ ~luid~ ~h~ough
the heAt~d upper in~e~l, the ri~ld ~B}. ~au~e~ am ~rom B
~ub~ent ~tea~ ~l~oding ur ~team ~ mulati~n opera~ i~n ~o be
dlv~rted ~o a deep~ Ye1 in th~ produalnq ln~xval, thexeby
pr~ducing addltlonal ~ydr~aar~on~eou~ ~uids to ~he ~;us~ e.
G~lla~l~ aqu~ou~ omp~ ions w~i~h c~a~n ;eorm a ~ol~d g~l
upon ro~ct~lng ~ temper~uro above 300'~ ~re o~mp~i~;od ~
wat~ di~per~ibl~ polymar~, phQn~ compound~, and aldRhyde
produaing aomp~und~, Polyn~er~ wh~ah ~r~ d her~in aa~o
~Qleate~ ~rom a member of ~he ~r~up aonsi~tin~ o~ poly~lnyl
alcoh~l, po~yvin~l Alcohol ~opolymers, pol~acryl~mide, polyvinyl
~mine, ~ul~on~te~ polyvinyl ~laohc~l, and poly~aa~ylamide-
~arylaJn~ 2-me~hylpropann ~ul~on~). Phenoli~ aompound~
w~ioh can be u~:ed ~.nclud2 phenol, c~cho~, r~E~o~inol,
phlo~ogluc~nol, 4, ~ iphenc~ , 3-dihy~r~xy- nap~thalene, and
r~lated ~mllar compound~, Aldehyd~ produc~lng compoun~ which
can bl3 u~ llzEtd herein upo~ reach~.ng ~ np~ratu~e ~bo~ ab~Ut
3 00 F ~noludo trlox~, pa~P~rmaldQhyda, ~nd tetra~xane .
~ t is t~eref~re ~n ~b~ct o~ thls inventlon ~o provid~ ~or a
tQmpsra~.ur~ actlva~ed gella~l~ composi~l~n which c:an be deli~rer~d
inl-~ a ~eated upp~r produa'clve zon~ hav~ ng a kemp~ature
~u~ ient t:o ac~ ate ~ld compo~;itlon and 6~1QCtiV~1Y ~rm
~ol~d gel ~hereln.
nothe~ ob~ec~ o~ ~hi~ inv~ntic1n to pr~rid~ ~or a
~e~nper~turG~ ~ck~va~d gellabl~ co~npDeitlon wh~a~ can be dQlivsr~d
~n~ a ~o~matl~n ' ~ ~'cQam ~ d~d zon~ h~vln~ ~ tempHrature above
~bout 300F and th~reaftex fo~m a ~ d gel ~her#in.
It is ~t ano~he~ ~b~ ~ct D2~ ~hl~ ~nvention t~ pro~ e ~or
~ompo~l~lon which ~idQ ~oxming a solld g~l in a ~o~ler 30ne of
les~e~ permo~bili~y or an unhe~t~d zone o~ a f~natlon,
It is an~the~ Purthe~ ~b~ ~ct o~ lnven~i~n to provid~
~r a compo~itlon ~hat w~11 minimlze gql damag6~ a cool3r znn~
o~ low0r perm~bili~y w~ ing pore~ ln a hi.gher
perm~ahil~ty ~on~ having ~ temper~ku~ ab~ve A~hUt 300~,
It i~ a ~tlll ye~ ~ur~her c~ec~ o~ ~hl~ inven~lon to
pr~vld~ so~npos;L~ion ~hich will inc:r~a~e ~h~ e~cienay o~ A
dri~ ~luid thr~u~h ~ ~or~na~c~on ther~by incr~a~ing th~ yield o~
hydroc~rbonaa~ou3 ~luld~ th~e~rom.
~.~h~
FIG. ~ ~ a diagramn~tlc plall ~lew o~ a ~orm~tien wh~3re
~t~am ha~ p~ed ~21rough a hl~h pe~ne~h~llty zc~ne or upper
productive inter~r~l intcl a p~duc~ion w~
- 6 -
'~ ~, ? ~
J ' 1;, ' 1~,7 '~ ,~
FI~. 2 :i~ a dlag~mn~tic: pla~ vi~w where ~cht3 hig~
p~me~bilit~ ~one ~r upp~r p~c,duc~ive intu~v~l h~ be~3n clo~ed
With ~ he~t ~ tlv~ gel whlle ~eam is p~~1ng through a low
p~r3neabl~ity zon6~ c~r ~ow~ p~uc~iVG~ int~
FIG~ 3 i~ ch~matl~ repr~ n~ation which ~llu~trate~
tempe~Ur~ d1E~t~l~u~ion in~o hlgh and low psrm~abili'c~ ~on~ o~
a ~o~matlon durln~ ~eam ~loo~lng or ste~m ::tlmulationO
D~srlng tho re~ov~r o f hydrocarbonAcG~ou~ f lulc~s ~om a
multipl~ produatlv~ in~erval i~orm~t~on where~n a ~ m ~loodin~
proc0~t is utilized, a~ is ~lown in PIG. 1, ~ m en'c~r~ oonduit
~ o~ in~ection welL 10. A~te~arclE;, ~'ceam exi'Cs in~ectiG~n well
10 vla pe~o~ion~ 12 ~nd en~r~3 high p~rme~bility zGne or ~app~r
p~odu~t~e in~rval 14. St~m ~nd hydrocarbonEI ob~cainad ~rom
h~c~h p~rmeability zone or upper p~oduct~v~ int~rval 12 axit
~h~ough p~oduc:t~on well 16 via per~oration~ 1~. The~e~tQr,
s~e~m and hydroc~rbonaceou~3 ~l uids exi~ produ¢tion w~ll 12 via
c:ondult ~. Du~in~ this E;t~am 1OD~in~ proces~ e high
p~r~e~bill~y Zone or upp6~r produ~ ve in~E3rva~ 14 is heat~:d up by
~che st~am. Whil~ being heelta~ t~mp~rature contaur is
d~v~loped in elth~r a ~ am ~lo~ded o~ a ~t~am stlmul~d
~o~ma~i~n. Thu~, ~he uppe~ produ~L~r~ lntorval or z~n~ ~wept by
~t~am in ~ld p~odua~ivs3 lnt~3rv~1 h~vo the high~t3t temper~ture~
ln th~ ~orm~tion whll~ th~a un~W~pt ar~ or ~Xfl~ not: reCBiVi
~team in the fc~r~na'cl~n h~ he lowe8t. Thl~ conc!epl~ iR
lllu~tr~ted ln ~IB. 3.
Th~ ~onc:ept lllu~ated ~n F~ equ~lly appllcsabl~ t~ a
th~ l t~ct~ni~sue wh~re ~3tea~ ; utillzed wLth ~ sin~) e w~Ll in
multi.ple produa~v~ ~n~ex~al Eormat~on. 0~ course thl~ weli 1
not per~ra~d ~ a lower p~odu~tlve intorval, Thls t~h3~1~ue i~
-- 7
~J (J/ ', 'i" S ~ J~
known aG ~hE~ ~hu~ d puP~ method. Thi~ m~3thod 1~3 de~crib~d Ln
U.6, P~t~nt Nc). 3,~59,1~ff ~hich i~ hur~by lnc~rpor~ted by
refe,~63nae h~reln. Irl t~.B me~chod, E3~ am 1~ in~c~e~ via ~ w~
~n qu~ntit~e~ :uf~ nt to heat an upper ~ub~erranean
hydrooarbon-be~a~"g form~tl.on in ~ vic~ it,y o~ ~.h~ w~ll. The
w411 1~ then shu~-in ~or a E~oa~lng perio~, a~ter whiah it i~
pl~aed on p~o~uction. Arter p~o~ua~ion ha~ d~(:lined in ~he upper
procluctive inte~v~l the "hu~ ~nd puf P~ me~hod may ag~in be
employod ~n the ~ame w~l at ~ low2x produc~ivH ln~arv~l to agalr~
~tin~ulate produoti~n. Fl~id communicatlnn With the lower
procluctiv~ lntar~al i~ ~b~ained ~y recomple~ing or p~or~lng
the~ well at ~h~3 low~ ~nt~al a~e~ ~o~min~ lid ~el in the
upp~r p~oduat~ve inter~10
The applia~ion of ~lngle we~l scheme~ employing ~te~m
lnje~-ion as applied to heavy o~ ur bltum~n i~ desc:rib~d in
U.S. Paten~ No. 2,~ 3~, whlch utllize~ g~avi~y ~r~nag~. Thi~
patent i~ incerpl)ra~d ~y re~erenc~ l~erein. An improvement o~
tht ~ ms~od i~ de~ibe~ ~n a la~ce~ paten~, U. S . Patont No.
3,1~5,1~;0, in whioh ~3teAm i~3 in~ected and app~opr~ately ~imed
whll~ p~es~uring and deprç~6uring ~3p~ ~X'R employed. Whe~
applloable to a ~ield p~te~rn, ~he "hu~ ar~d pu~ hniquo may
be ph~ed ~t~ th~t numerou~ w~ 3 a~e on an in~ation cycl~ whlle
~ther~ aro on ~ productloxl ay~le: ~he cyc:le6 m~y t:hen b~
ra~r~ed~ 'rhl~ pa~en'c is h~reby incorp~r~e~ by r~r~nce
l~ere~n.
U. ~. Pa~n~ No. ~, ~57, 650 d~ ibe~ a method f~r r~ov~in~
h~h ~l~a~sity olls ~om su3~ur~ orm~til~n~ u~n~ ~team and an
in~rt g~ to pre~ r~ze and hea~ the ~orma~ion and the oil whi~
t aon'caltl~ . Th~ ~t~3~m flnd the inert ga~ y be in~eot~d eith~r
~mul'can~ot~sl~,r or s6~u~n~1ally, a.g. ~te~n in~ ion, ~ollow~d by
a ~oak period, ~ollowed ~y ln~e~ion o~ inext ga~ Inert ga~
JL~ r~ lL ~ hlR Of lK5 C0~ i ro 9 161~63g~ P. lZ
' ' ~
raferred ko inc:lude helium, m~thane, aar~on d~c:xid~, ~lue ga~,
s'c~k ~ And oth~r ga~ whic:h ar~ nonconden~;~ble in char~ater
and wh~h do not ira~arala~ ~lther wlth ~he ~orma~ion ma~rlx or ~h~
oil or ~ther ea,~h material~ c:on~,in~sd in ~h~ natrlx. Th~
paten~ 1~ he~reby inc~rporateca ~y re~e~r~nc~e h~rein.
Wh~n it becom~ n~ orlo~nia~.l to aon~ nue~ ln~ ec~.ng s~eam to
rQ~C~r hyàroa~r~on~ceou~ ~luld~ ~rom an upper producs~ro
ln~en~al ViA a "hu~ ~nd pu8`~" me~hod o~ ~rc)m a ~sm ~looding
m~hod wher~ an in~ ection and ~ producer w~ r~ ~3mployed a~
~ho~n ln FIG~ aam in~ea~lon ir~o injec:~ion well lO i~
coQ~ed. ~vc~ntually, ~ a~ ~n~ hydroaa~bonz~ 30s ~luid~ ce~s~ ~o
~low int:o produa~r well 1~ ~rom ~che upp~3r pr~d-~c~lve int~rval.
P~duo~ well 16 i~ t~d to al ~empE~r~ure o~en in exc~ o~
300''~. ~n or~er to obtElln hydroc:arbona~eau~ ~luids fxos~ low~r
produative int~rval 18, skeam ~ant~y ~nto heated upper interval 14
eaq~d. Communia~ion ther~ore ha~ ~co ~ t~bli~hed b~ween
ln~ec~/~r ~4ell 10 and produoer well 16 ~ th~ l~wer produo~ci
level 18.,
~o ~a~mpli~h ~ e, in ~no Qmbodirnent o~ ~hi~ in~r~ntion, a
te~np~ra~ur~ ~tivat~d gellabl~ compe~ition i~ dire¢t~à down
produoo~ well lG. Pr~or to dlrec~lng ~ald compo~ition irlto
prod-~c~ w~ll 16, ~ch~ temp~ra~urla wl~hln ~he well i~: detfl~snined.
Th~ ~emp~ra~ur~ qan b~s m~aa~u~d by A dowa~hc)l~ d~ a~ i~ known
by thO~ ~kiLlled in th~ a~ ch~ w~ll temper~ r~ ~ ho'c
enough to actlvat~ ~he gellab~e co2npo~ition ~o as t~ cau~e
~olid or r~gid ~el to ~o~n ln the well~ ~h~a well iB c~ol~d.
5Qveral m~'chcd~ can be u~e~ to aool the well~ vn~ embo~ nt
a ~o~llnç~ ~luid pr~ferably w~er, ~n be lnj~f3d af3 ~ spac~r
prtor to ir~ectlng th~ gellable aompo~Lti~n into ~ell 1~ and tl
ro~mation~ Xn~eo~ n o~ th~ coolln~ ~luld i~ n~inued until
' ,,i?~ s,? /.~
~ro~uc~r well 1.~ haf3 ~n aoolf~d ~o ~ k~mp~rz~ture o~ ou~ 3~F
~o ~bot~t 4 5 o ~ ~ ~
Xn Anoth~r em~o~ nt, ~ch~ coollny ~luid can be oi~c~l~t~d
lnto produc~ well ~ ~hrouyh ~ n-::entr~c s~ri~ conE~ ing o~
aJl lnn~r and an outer tu~ing . ~hEI cool ing ~lu~d ~1~3WE~ down tha
in~er tub~ng and ou~ o~ t:h~ ~oncQn~rl~ ~crlng by th~ o~'ce~
tul31ng~ ~urin~ the c~r :ul~loh of the cooling ~luid ln~o and out:
o~ produaer wæll 16, t,h~ concen~la Ei~rir~y r~maln~ in oon~eac~
wi~h p~duc~r w~ c~ a~3 ~o cc~ a te~np~ tu~e o~ ~bout
300'F to abo~c 450~F. ~oollng producer w~ll 16 ln 'chi~ manne~
allow~ ~r mo~e p~ec~.~e con~rol o~ ~h~ coo~ proce~. Upo~
obta~n ~ ng a des~ed t~mp~r~ure su~lci~nt ko pr~vent pren~atux~
~llatlon o~ ~h~ g~llablQ c~o~po~i~lon, ciraul~ion o~ co~lin~
~luld in~o p~o~ucsr well 16 i~ ~topped~
~ te~ cir~u?~iDn o~ c:Doling ~luid ln~o ~h~ c:on~en~cric:
~trlng is ~topp~ e ~omp~turq~ ac:t~JA~ed g~llable c~r~p~ lvn
1~ injea~63d d~wn prcduc:~ w6311 1~ vi~ ~ch~ conc:~n~rlc strlng. ~o
accosnplish ~hi~ a ~ur~ r~turn valYe on th~ cont:~n~ri~ ~rlng
1~ cl~o~ ther~by ~oppang ~he c~ul~t~on o~ ~Luld ~rom ~h3
~on~en~rlc ~rirlg. The a~ va~ed g~llable compo~i~ion i~
dl6pl~cad i~to hi~her productive intet:v~l 14 by ~ontlnu~d
c~ion ~ pumplr~g into th~ ~:onc~ntrl~: s~rlng. Dl~pla~em~7~t o~
~he t~nperatur~ aati~JAt~d gell~blQ c~omposi~lon a~n b~ alded by
plaaing a ~railing ~luid e.g, w~a~ in'co p~odu<:ar we~l 16 through
~ prns~ur~ aa~ated valvo or ~uptur~ dl~k.
Alternativ~ly, a --
,-- A pre~ure act~va~ed v~lve or ru~ur~
di~k is ~l~o u~d ~o aau~:~ a ~empera~urt3 ~c'civ~ted g~lla~le
colnpositlon ~o ~low into thQ produc~r w~ r~m th~ concentrio
strinq af~er th~ e;~lrface return v~ ; clo~ed on salcl
cono~ntrl~ ~trln~
Pve~- ~F; '~'ca K6~ep ~n~ gella~le ~ompc~aitlon in ~ ~ool~d
., 7
~or~ltion, thr~ in~3ction e,kr~.n~ c~n be ln~ul~k~d. ~di~l~n~lly,
~he gel~a~le cc,mpo~it~on ca.ll be k~:pt c:o~l by u~ing an ~ lon
strln~ ln ~om~hat~orl ~ith ~.h~ concendcrlc s~riny.
Ona~ the lnje~d g~llab~ e compo~tlc7n ~ ate~ up
p~oduc~r well 1~ ~ heated upper pro~uc~g in~er~al 14, it Porm~R
a ~l~id s~l~d gol, ill produc:ing :In~Br~al 20 upon r~ h1n0 a
temp~ratu~e o rom a~3ou~ 3 oo D ~0 abou~ 450 ~ F . Sin~ ~hf~ lower
pro~Uc~ive inte~val 18 1~ les~ t:~an zlbout 3 00 ~ F, k~ abLe
aompo~it~on ~emain~ ungell~d ln ~:h~ interv~,l, Un~elled material
can ~e ~emo~ rom lower produ~ive int~rv~l 18 by pUmping it
oU~ or in~ectirlg Water to circ1ulat:e lt eu~.
A~ter ~llowillg ~uffl~;ient ~ima for the gQllable cornpoaiti4n
o~n a ~olld gel i~ upp~ lev~al 14, ~ e~m ~l~od ~nha~ od oll
recovery ~ hod i ~ub~qu~ntly comm~ sd ln ln~eation well 10
and ~ommunic~clon is ~t~.bli~ d wi~h prot3ua~ w~ll lG v~ lowsr
p~oduGtive~ level 1~ thro~gh ~ntp~ perPorationE; 12. 13oth
we~ r~ ompl~3t~d ~t lower 1~3vel l~ Por ~luid ~ommunicakion~.
Utlliza~ion o~ thl~ met~od in~r~a~;~a ~weep o~ aien~r in the
PO~Ati On W~ 3 enhanc:lng ~h~ r~acovery ~ additional
h~dxoc~r~on~c~ou~ ~lu~d~3. The ontir~ p~ae~ aan 1~* rG~p~ated
until a ~le~ire~ ~t~3a~n ~r wa~ o oil ra~io ha~; be~n obta~n~d.
Should it ~ecom~ ne~e~ y, ad~ion~l p~3rforati~n~ ~an b~a
di~e~ted ~hrough injoctor W~311 lO and pr~ducq~ wQll lG lrl~o low~r
pxoduQtive ln~s~rval 1~.
~ u~ou~ gsll~ble heA~ ac:~lv~t~d ~omp~ lon~ whlch c~n ~e
utlllzed herein ~re compri~ed oP ~ p~lynl~r, a phenolia compound,
anæ an al~eby~e~ Poly~n~r~: u~cillzed here:Ln ar~ w~t~ perE~lb~a
polyJn~r~. The, t~rm "po~ or~ iG employRd ~enerlca~ly ~o lJ~¢lud~
both homopolymer~ and cop~lymer~. The ~erm ~'w~t~-d~pe~ibl~
polymer~ u~Rd genericEIlly to ~ clu~ tho~ polymorE~ which are
truly w2it~r soluble ~nd tho~e pol~n~ whiah ~re ~i~p~r~ lo lrl
water or in c~h~r El~u~ou~3 medl~ o ~orm G~able colloid~l
~u~p~n~3ionE3 whle:h c~n be gell~ 1$ ~ h~ term l'aqueo~
dl~p~rslon~ t~llz~d g~nerl~ally to in~ud~ b~kh tr~B
so~utic~ns and st~bl~ collo.t.dal E~u~p~ on~: o~ componen~ o~ the
aon~po~ on c~ ~h~ ~nv~n~lon whi~h c~n b~ g~lle~ a~ will b~
de~x~bod l~e~reln. WAter-di~:p~r~:1bl~ pol~nor~ whiah ar¢ u~d
her9i~ ar6~ t~ad ~r~m ~ me~nbor o~ the group c:on~lsting of
polyvinyl alcohol, polya~zryla~i~e, gul~ ated polyvinyl a~cohcl,
and poly(ac~rylamidel-co-acr~lAmido 2-m~hylpropane ~ul~n~t~).
Polyv~nyl al~ohol (PVA) at VAriC)U~3 d~grGl~BE~ O~ hydroly~ls axe
useful~, other polym~r~ cont~ ng OH, Nll2, CONH2, 4nd ~;~
~un~t~oh~l g~oup~ are ~lao us~ul. P~l~v~nyl a~ine, an~
oopc~lymar~ con~ining t~le prev1ou~ly ment~ oned ~un~ L~n~ group~
ar~ use~ul. Any ~i~ thesE~ wa~er-dispe~iblç polym~r~ ~re plac~d
into ~n a~ueous~ mix~uxe in ~noun~ o~ ~rom ~bou~ o . 5 ~o about ~. 0
wt~ rhs aq~2~0u~ m~dium aan ~ompr1~ ~r~h water, b~ack~
~t~r, ~ ~S3fl wa~qr, ~nd m~x~ureE~ ~hereo~. Polya~ryl~mldQ and
poly~-Acrylantid~2-me~hylpropane ~ ona~e) ar~ di~u~ed ~n
U~. P~ n~ No~ 4,44~,22~ whi~h i6~ued c)n Apr~l 3, 19~4 to
~w~n~on. ~hl~ patent 1~ hex~h~r in~orp~r~ed her~in in its
en~1rety.
A~t~ p~clng tha ~o~e~te~ water-dl~p~r~ible polym~r into
the ~queou~ mediu~, a phsnoli~ c~pound 1~ ~dd~d ~o t~ mix~ua~e.
Phenolia co~poun~ w~l~h can ~ u~ed her~ln inal~de ph~nol,
naph~hol, c~te~hol, re~orclnol, phla~ogluainul, 4,~' diph~nol,
1,3-~ihydroxynaph~halene, ahd rel~t~d ~lmilar aompoun~. Tbe
~mount a~ ph~nol~c aompound utllized ~ould ~e in a~aes~ o~ 0.5
~t.~ or higher. ~he amount ~ phenolL~ ~umpound u~ed her~in
~hould bc suf~lcient ~o lmp~rt t~l~ d~ir~d gellation ef~ect
within t~e de~ired ~i~e per~o~.
- 12 --
5, j1~
Ono~ th~ ph~noli~ c~mpound ha~ b~an aclded, a
w~sr-dlspe~sible aldehy~e 1~: tnixed into 'ch~ ~que4us mlxture.
IJnd~ proper ~ondi~ion~ oP u~, ho'ch ~liph~ic ~nd ~romatl¢
monoal~ehydes, And d~aldehydees, oan ~E~ u~Qd. Ths ~lipha~lc
m~no~ld~hyde~ contEIining from ~ ko abou~ lo ~arbon a~oms p~r
mctlecule a~e pre~ntl~ pre~er~ecl. ~p~se~ta~ e exnmp~s of
3uch aldehydeR in~lude ~c~rm;~ldehyde, tri~ane~ t-3tr~0xane,
polyoxy~thylGne, an~ othe~ p~l~meric: ~ldehyd~s. ~p~esentati~
ox~mpl~ oP di ald~hydes incllJde glyoxlll, glutr~ld~hyde ?
ter~aphtt~ dehyde, and mi~tture~ ~her~o~ Th~ m
"t?ato~- d~per~ible~ emplo~d g~ner~oally te in~lude bo~ch tho~e
ald~3hydQs whiah a~e ~rul~ wa~er-~olub~e and kh~se alclehyd~3~ o~
l~mit~d water ~olublli~y ~u1 whtc~ di~per~ible in w~t~r or
other a~u~ou~ m~qia ~o ~0 ~n bs ef~ectl~,re gelling ~gents. ~h~
p~e~erred ald6~hy~ ih trioxane.
An~r ~uitable amoun'c o~ ~riox~ne ~nd ph~no~Lc: comp~und~ can
bQ u~ ed h rein. ~n ~11 in~ noe~, the amount o~ aldehydo ~nd
phenolla compoun~ u~;Qd ~h~uld b~ ~mA~l ~ul: in an amount
~u~flcient to ~ause g~ ion of ~n aqueoU~ di~persion u~ a
polymer, the ~Idehyde, an~ thR pl~enoll~ ~ompound. A~ ~ g~neral
guide, the ~mount oP ald~hyde u~d in preparing thQ s~al
~omposl~ions h~3r~ will be i~l ~h~ ~ange o~ Xr~m abo~t o. O~ to
about ~, pre~ra~ly ~ . O ~o about ~ . O w~. ~; b~d orl th~ a~
weight oP thl3 oc7mpo~ition.
A prePer~ed tempe~aturu aatt ~va~ g~ bl e mixture ~olnp~i~e~
polyvinyl alo~hol, ph~nol, ~nd tri~xan~. Th~ e~ect o~
t~mp~ratu~e on said mlxture i~ ~hown in l~abl~ 1. Wh~n expo:ed to
a ~orrn~iDn having ~ ra~ur~ o~ L~bou~ 300~ t~ ~bout 35~P or
hi~her, ~ m qel will ~orm it~ about 1 day ~o ~bout 1~ day~ when
0. 05 ~o about 0. 5 w~. 96 o~ sodlum hyd~xlde i~ u~ilized a3 i~
~hown ln ~able ~. Poly~inyl al~o~ ol i8 ueed in ~moun~ o~ aboul;
- 13 -
~ 'J
0 . ~ ~o ~bou~c 5 . 0 wt. % . Ph~nDl iQ U~:Qd irl abo-~'c O ~ 5 ~o ~bout 5 . û
w~.~ or hig~er. Thl3 p~le3~ to s;~lox~nl3 r~s.Jcl~ 1~ abou~ 1:5 to
O ~ 5, pr~ r~b~y a~ou~c O . ~. The polyvinyl alcoh~31/pht~nol we~ght
rat I o ~ ~ ~rom abou~ o . 2 ~o ~bou~e z ~ ~f C~UrAa, ~ lowl3r x~tio 1
u~d when ~har highe~ olecul~r w~ h'c po~ r: are utill~d.
Pol~m~ concen~rat~ion 1~ dl~eotly proportlonAl 'co the gel
~trengt~ . A rlgl~ gel 1~ ~or~ned whlch i~ propo~t ional ~o the
~ol;al material~ cor~tent.
~A~I,E
Ten~p~rAture senf~iti~rity op P~tA/~heno~ ioxan~ ~;e~atl~n
~emp, ~ ~oo 300 ~50 ~oO 450
G~l TlSne, days no g~l no gel ~ 1 1
2 . ~6 P~'A. 4% ph~n~l, 3% ~rioxan~
TABLE 2
~e~t o~ NaO~ Conaent~ion ol~ G~ Time
~OH. 3~ $,~F
0 . 05No ~el 15 days ~ days 4 ~ay~
O. 1 ~ lB ~ 5~7 ~ 2
~. 2 " lZ ~' 2 " 1 day
~ 1 d~y 1
~ 1 d~
2 . ~% PVA ~ 4 ~; pheno1, 3 ~ trioxane
PrLc~r ~o in~oc~in0 ~he aqu~ou~ ~omperelture act~v~ed
g~llab~ mixtu~e, ~he f~ tion i~ h~t~d a~ men~Lonad abov~
d~lr~n~ ~ ~te~m ~loodin~ ~r ~am 6~1:imulatic~n ~nhanced oll
r~co~rer~ pr~ceEs~ . A ~orma~ n ~e~mperatura o~ ah~ut 3 50 ' F ~
pre~err~d. Th~ m~tl~od oP tt~ imr~nti~n can el~o be u~ed when
the ar~s in ur ~ub~n~all~t near el~h~r ~h~ in~ection W311 or
tho p~oduat~on w~ll h~ b~n he~d ~0 the d~si~d temp~r~ture,
~ 14 -
S~c~uld lt be de~r~d, t~ gella}~ omp~3itlon c;~n b~ in~e~t~d
into ~uth th~ lnjec~cor ~Jld producer well~ ~o ~ tD e~c~iv~ly
clo~e o~ t;ho~ aa~ed a~eas in al~;e pr~xim~.~y t~ th~ wells.
Thl~ cona~pt lg depia~d in F~gure 2.
Thi~ me~hod i8 alsc~ par~Lcularly ~ne~iclal when i~
d~3~ire~ to ~lo~e the i~e~ d area a~ound a produc'cion well ~hich
hae ~uP~red a p~e~ature ~team brG~1cthrough. ~ hiE~ uation,
s~eam injection i~; c,~ e~ ~nd ~h~ ~empere~k~lr~ tlvated gellable
nix~urG~ i.s in~ ~ctad in~o ~he pr~duc:tion w~çll ror a ~ims
suP~ic:ien~ anter the ~as wh:~ch comp~i~e the prem~ture
bre~3ctllrough zone. ~Ptarw~rds the g~ ble mixture in tnA~c ~on~
llowed to ~or~ a ~olid gel. or~Q the ~lid gel is f4~ d, an
enhancb~d o~l ~ec:ov~3~y m~thod in w~ h a drivQ flui~ i~ u~lized
c~s~ be inJecte~ ei~he~ ~hrough the injeGtion w~ ar tn~
produc~ well to recover hydrocar3~onac:~ou~ fluid~ ~rom ~ le~
pernl~abl~a z one C)I t~e ~orma~lon .
A~ denlun~rat~d ~ tha novel'cy o~ ~h~ lnven'cion 1~3 tllat th~
cro~-linking rl3aa~lon is ~ivated at elev~ted temp~atur~
gr~ r than aba~lt 350D~. The a~o~ linXlng re~otion i~ not
actl~ratsd a~ temper~tures und~:r 300'~ t high temperatu~e~,
trioxane, a cycl ic d~m~3r 4 ~o~mald~hyde d~compose~3 to yiol~
forlnaldehyde whic:h in ~u~n rE~aats wlth ph~nol ~o ~:orm phenPllc
resill, the ~elant, ln ~itU. Ph~nolla re~ln '¢hQn g~ h~
polym~r.
Wh~ t i~ ~esired to obtain lncrea~d ~weep ~f~lci~noy,
gel~ e~ thls lnventlon aan be uf~ed ~o plug a prevlou~ly ~w~pt
portlon c:~ a ~ormation ~rhic:h )2a~ been heat~d ~e a ~ernporatur~
exa~ o~ 300DP~. Sai~ gels aRn ~7e direc:t~d to area~ o~ ln~reased
poro~ity. Ona~ ~ ~olid ~1 ha~ Pormed, hydro~arbon~c~ous fl~lid~
~an b~ r~no~recl ~rom an a~ea o~ er perm~ahllity by utllizatLon
i~ any o~ th~ below me~h~ds,.
- 15 -
ç~ n'. ? ~
Addition~Lly, th~ embo~imt3n~l3 de.~cri~d ~,boY~ cE~ be used
whe~e the p~oduca~ well i~; in-csslng gr~vel pack~d for ~An~3
c~r~t~ol .
S~e~mPlood proceE3~ wh~ch aan be utilize~d af~ clo~in~
pr~ c~ inte~v~l 18 w;L~h ~h~ g deEIcrlbed herein ~r~3
d~ail~ irt U.~. Pat~n~ N~s. 4,~8g,7~3 and 3,91B,521 l~u~d 'co
ShU anc~ ~nav~ly, re3pe~t~vely. ~h~ patent~ are hereby
oc~rp~ra~ed by re~erence h~rein~
~ 1 ~h~ugh the pre~aen~ invention ha~ be~n de~a~ibed wi~h
prererr~3d embs:d~on~ i8 to 1~ under3~0~d ~h~ modi~lca~lon~
and va~iations ~y k~ ~e~30~ o witho~ depax~lng ~rom 'che
8pi~i~ and sc~p~ of thi~ lnv~3n'cion, ~9 ~ho~e ~klll~d in th~ art
wi~l re~dily unde~ nd. Suah n~od~flaa~ion~ ~nd variation~ a~e
con~idered tc~ be ~i~hin the pur~iew ~nd ~ ope c-P 'che app~nded
clai~
-- ~6 --
