Rhone-Poulenc Specialites Chimiques

Rhone-Poulenc Recherches

Jean-Louis Brun

Gerard Berrod

Pierre Allemand

Robert Maurer

Bernard Vinot

Philippe Bosc

Stable, gel-forming aqueous microemulsions, well adopted for the reversible stabilization or plugging of soil/rock formations, e.g., subterranean well formations, are comprised of (i) an aqueous solution of a water-soluble alkali metal silicate, (ii) a gelling reagent therefor, and (iii) at least one surface active agent.

Gel-forming aqueous microemulsions for soil stabilization

Porous, subterranean oil bearing formations penetrated by at least one wellbore are temporarily and reversibly plugged/sealed, by injecting therein a solution of an alkali metal silicate and a gelling agent therefor, permitting said alkali metal silicate and said gelling agent to harden into a relatively impermeable gel, maintaining said gel for period of plugging/sealing time desired, and thence disintegrating said relatively impermeable gel to substantially restore the initial porosity of said formation.

Reversible plugging of oil bearing formations

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Lyons, France

Jean-Louis Brun