Patent · US Expired

Composition for selective placement of polymer gels for profile control in thermal oil recovery

US5071890A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
11References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 23, 1990
Grant dateDec 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/24
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A composition for closing pores in a formation following a steam-flooding enhanced oil recovery process. The composition comprises an aqueous temperature activated gellable mixture. This mixture is comprised of water, water dispersible polymers, phenolic compounds, and aldehyde producing compounds. Polymers which can be utilized herein include polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate). Phenol is the phenolic compound of choice. At a formation temperature greater than 300.degree. F., trioxane, the preferred aldehyde producing compound decomposes to yield formaldehyde which reacts with phenol to form phenolic resin in situ. The resin gels the polymer and forms a solid gel in a heated zone of the formation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.