The present invention relates to methods of reducing water produced with hydrocarbons from subterranean formations penetrated by well bores. The methods basically comprise the steps of coating a particulate solid material with an organic polymer which reacts with water and swells when contacted therewith whereby the flow of water through a pack of the resulting polymer coated particulate solid material is reduced or prevented, and thereafter, placing a pack of the polymer coated particulate solid material in or adjacent to the formation whereby water and hydrocarbons produced from the formation are caused to flow through the pack.
A method to reduce water influx into a producing well is described comprising the steps of pumping a chemical composition into a production interval and into surrounding formation; said composition being capable of forming, firstly, a physically stabilized structure and, secondly, a chemically stabilized structure, wherein said physically stabilized structure being dissolvable by hydrocarbon containing fluids; letting said composition form said physically stabilized structure within the formation surrounding said production interval; changing pressure condition in said production interval such that the fluid flow within the surrounding formation is reversed; letting thereby in some portions of the formation hydrocarbon containing fluids dissolve said physically stabilized structure and chemically stabilize said structure in the remaining portions by a cross-linking reaction. The time constants of the two stabilizing reactions are selected such that the physical stabilization is essentially completed before the pumping direction is reversed and the chemical stabilization is essentially completed after the pump-out/cleaning operation.
Disclosed is a method and material for forming a fluid barrier in the material surrounding a wellbore. The method involves temporarily opening a fracture extending from the wellbore and then depositing particulates in the fracture which will swell when exposed to the fluid. The particles are deposited in the fracture without causing appreciable swelling thereof and then, after the fracture closes, the particles are allowed to swell when contacted with the fluid to form a fluid barrier.
Materials and a process are provided whereby polymers with the pendant group or end group containing --Si(OR'').sub.3 (where R'' is H, an alkyl group, Na, K, or NH.sub.4) are used to control aluminosilicate scaling in a Bayer process. When materials of the present invention are added to the Bayer liquor before the heat exchangers, they reduce and even completely prevent formation of aluminosilicate scale on heat exchanger walls. The present materials are effective at treatment concentrations that make them economically practical.
A technique is provided to control flow in subterranean applications, such as hydrocarbon fluid production applications. The technique utilizes an aggregate formed, at least in part, of particles that swell in the presence of a specific substance or substances. The aggregate is deployed as a slurry or in other forms to desired subterranean locations. Once located, the aggregate allows the flow of hydrocarbon fluids but swells upon contact with the specific substance or substances to limit inflow of undesirable fluids.
Disclosed is a method and material for forming a fluid barrier in the material surrounding a wellbore. The method involves temporarily opening a fracture extending from the wellbore and then depositing particulates in the fracture which will swell when exposed to the fluid. The particles are deposited in the fracture without causing appreciable swelling thereof and then, after the fracture closes, the particles are allowed to swell when contacted with the fluid to form a fluid barrier.
