US4524829A — Method of altering the permeability of a subterra…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of altering the permeability of a subterranean formation comprising contacting said formation with an aqueous mixture comprising: a. a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality; and b. a crosslinking composition comprising (1) water; (2) a zirconium compound selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, zirconium ortho-sulfate, zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium carbonate, zirconium ammonium carbonate, and mixtures thereof; (3) an alpha-hydroxy acid represented by the following formula: ##STR7## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, (4) an amine compound represented by the formula: ##STR8## wherein: R 1 is hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of altering the permeability of a subterranean formation comprising contacting said formation with an aqueous mixture comprising: a. a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight greater than 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality; and b. a crosslinking composition comprising (1) water; (2) a zirconium compound selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, zirconium ortho-sulfate, zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium carbonate, zirconium ammonium carbonate, and mixtures thereof; (3) an alpha-hydroxy acid represented by the following formula: ##STR7## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, (4) an amine compound represented by the formula: ##STR8## wherein: R 1 is hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 107 words

The method recited in claim 1 wherein said water dispersible organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of carboxyalkyl guar wherein the alkyl group has 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, carboxyalkylhydroxyalkyl guar wherein the alkyl groups have 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, xanthan gum, polyacrylamide wherein about 5 to about 75 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, polymethacrylamide wherein about 5 to about 75 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, cellulose ethers, a copolymer of about 5 to about 70 percent by weight acrylic acid or methacrylic acid copolymerized with acrylamide or methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method recited in claim 2 wherein the alpha-hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method recited in claim 3 wherein the amine compound is selected from the group consisting of diethanolamine, tri-ethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method recited in claim 4 wherein the zirconium compound is zirconium oxychloride.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method recited in claim 5 wherein the crosslinking composition comprises about 1 mole of zirconium metal ion, about 2 to about 5 moles of the alpha-hydroxy acid, and about 1 to 5 moles of the amine compound.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method recited in claim 6 wherein crosslinking composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, and mixtures thereof, and said ingredient is present in the range of about 0.25 moles to about 2 moles for 1 mole of zirconium metal ion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method recited in claim 6 wherein said crosslinking composition is present in the range of from about 1.0 to about 100.0 parts by weight of the polymer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method recited in claim 8 wherein said polymer is present in the range of from about 0.0025 to about 5.0 weight percent of water.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method recited in claim 9 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide wherein 7 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, polyacrylamide wherein 30 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of altering the permeability of a subterranean formation comprising: sequentially contacting the formation with a. a first aqueous mixture comprising a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality; b. a crosslinking composition comprising (1) water; (2) a xirconium compound selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, zirconium ortho-sulfate, zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium carbonate, zirconium ammonium carbonate, and mixtures thereof; (3) an alpha-hydroxy acid represented by the following formula: ##STR9## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, (4) an amine compound represented by the formula: ##STR10## wherein: R 1 is a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, c. a second aqueous mixture comprising a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 215 words

A method of altering the permeability of a subterranean formation comprising: sequentially contacting the formation with a. a first aqueous mixture comprising a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality; b. a crosslinking composition comprising (1) water; (2) a xirconium compound selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxychloride, zirconium acetate, zirconium ortho-sulfate, zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium carbonate, zirconium ammonium carbonate, and mixtures thereof; (3) an alpha-hydroxy acid represented by the following formula: ##STR9## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, (4) an amine compound represented by the formula: ##STR10## wherein: R 1 is a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, R 3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms and a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to about 3 carbon atoms; and, c. a second aqueous mixture comprising a water dispersible hydrophilic organic polymer having a molecular weight of at least 100,000 and containing carboxyl functionality.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

The method recited in claim 11 wherein said water-dispersible organic polymer of the first and second mixture is selected from the group consisting of carboxyalkyl guar wherein the alkyl group has 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, carboxyalkylhydroxyalkyl guar wherein the alkyl groups have 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, xanthan gum, polyacrylamide wherein about 5 to about 75 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, polymethacrylamide wherein about 5 to about 75 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, cellulose ethers, a copolymer of about 5 to about 70 percent by weight acrylic acid or methacrylic acid copolyerized with acrylamide or methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method recited in claim 12 wherein the alpha-hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid and mixtures thereof.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method recited in claim 13 wherein the amine compound is selected from the group consisting of diethanolamine, tri-ethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method recited in claim 14 wherein the zirconium compound is zirconium oxychloride.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method recited in claim 15 wherein the complexing composition comprises about 1 mole of zirconium metal ion, about 2 to about 5 moles of the alpha-hydroxy acid, and about 1 to 5 moles of amine compound.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method recited in claim 16 wherein crosslinking composition further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, and said ingredient is present in the range of about 0.25 moles to about 2 moles for 1 mole of zirconium metal ion.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method recited in claim 16 wherein said crosslinking composition is present in the range of from about 1.0 to about 100.0 parts by weight of the polymer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method recited in claim 18 wherein said polymer of said first and second mixtures is present in the range of from about 0.0025 to about 5.0 weight percent of water.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method recited in claim 19 wherein said polymer of said first and second mixtures is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide where 7 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups, polyacrylamide wherein 30 percent of the carboxamide groups are hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups and mixtures thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-06-24	1988-12-24	1989-06-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-06-24	1992-12-24	1993-06-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-06-24	1996-12-24	1997-06-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of altering the permeability of a subterranean formation

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