Earth boring – well treating – and oil field chemistry – Well treating – Contains inorganic component other than water or clay
Patent
1996-12-04
2000-11-07
Broullette, Gabrielle
Earth boring, well treating, and oil field chemistry
Well treating
Contains inorganic component other than water or clay
507200, 507269, 507277, C09K 300, E21B 2100
Patent
active
061436992
ABSTRACT:
A method is provided for blocking high permeability channels in subterranean geological formations, using swelling clay. A slurry is prepared by mixing swelling clay, such as bentonite, into an aqueous solution containing the salt of certain cations, which inhibit clay swelling. The cations K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+ and Mg.sup.2+, among others, are inhibitive of clay swelling. The clay slurry is introduced into a geological formation, where it preferentially enters channels of high permeability. There the slurry is contacted by NaCl brine solution present in natural or injected drive fluids, and the inhibitive cations bound to the clay particles are replaced by Na.sup.+ ions, which attract water molecules and promote clay swelling. The Na.sup.+ -clay swells to up to 10 times its original volume, causing the slurry to acquire a gel-like consistency. The clay gel so formed is capable of blocking the flow of water, and can resist pressure of up to 500 kPa per meter.
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Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority
Broullette Gabrielle
Cole Monique T.
Van Tassel Kurt D.
VandenHoff Deborah G.
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