Patent · US Expired

Methods for limiting the inflow of formation water and for stimulating subterranean formations

US5979557A · kind A · utility

350Cited by
18References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 29, 1997
Grant dateNov 9, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 29, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S507/923
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method is provided for limiting the inflow of formation water during a well turn around to maximize polymer recovery after a hydraulic fracturing treatment of a formation. The method includes a step for selectively blocking the pore structure in a water-bearing zone and not blocking the pore structure of a hydrocarbon zone at the formation face; performing a hydraulic fracturing treatment using a fluid having a polymer; and turning the well around to recover the polymer. There is also provided a method of acidizing, preferably matrix acidizing, a formation having a hydrocarbon zone and a water-bearing zone. The method includes a step for selectively blocking the pore structure in the water-bearing zone at the formation face to selectively retard migration of acid into the water-bearing zone; and injecting acid into the formation, wherein the acid is diverted from the water-bearing zone to the hydrocarbon zone as a result of the selective blocking step. When the water-bearing zone contains a residual amount of hydrocarbon residues, the method further includes injecting a mutual solvent prior to the step for selectively blocking. In these methods, the step for selectively blocking …

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