METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE SWEEP EFFICIENCY OF GAS INJECTION

• Main Authors: KELLER STUART R, DICKSON JASPER L, TELETZKE GARY F, XIAO YITIAN, KAMAKOTI PREETI, MAZE WILLIAM B, SMITH, JR. PETER G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.09.2014
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMISTRY; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; DYES; EARTH DRILLING; EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FORELSEWHERE; METALLURGY; MINING; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS; PAINTS; POLISHES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

A method for recovering oil from a subterranean, hydrocarbon-bearing formation includes at least one injection well and injecting a carrier fluid including a diverting agent into a high permeability pathway within the formation. An activating fluid is injected into the high permeability pathway within the formation, resulting in the precipitation or swelling of the diverting agent. The permeability of the high permeability pathway is decreased within the formation containing the diverting agent to a permeability less than the permeability of the adjacent areas of the formation. The carrier fluid may have a predetermined residence time within the formation prior to injecting an activating fluid; the step of injecting a carrier fluid comprising a diverting agent and injecting an activating fluid may be repeated. A mineralization fluid may be injected that is oversaturated or becomes oversaturated upon interacting with the acid gas that causes mineral precipitation to seal off high-permeability pathways.