Continental Oil Company

Conoco Inc.

Thomas R Sifferman

Derry D Sparlin

Michael W Britton

Methods of inhibiting the flow of water into and from subterranean well formations wherein one or more gelling agents having the property of forming highly viscous gels in the presence of water are injected into the formation.

Methods of inhibiting the flow of water in subterranean formations

An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of (a) an anionic alkyl polyether ethoxylated sulfate or (b) a combination of this material with an alcohol ether sulfate. The resulting oil-in-water dispersion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.

Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons

An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of (a) a sodium or ammonium salt of an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate and (b) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of certain polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymers and certain oxyethylated alcohols. The resulting oil-in-water emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.

Recovery of high viscosity native crude samples

A method and composition is provided for positioning a polymeric material having particulate matter disposed therein in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The composition consists essentially of a hydrocarbon oil, a quaternary salt of an essentially undegraded, cellulose sulfate, solid particulate matter in an amount equal to from about 0.25 to about 22 pounds of particulate matter per gallon of hydrocarbon oil and an acid-settable thermosetting resin in an amount equal to from about 0.1 to about 5.0 gallons per cubic foot of particulate material. The composition is placed in contact with a subterranean formation in a wellbore by a method comprising injecting a first mixture consisting essentially of said quaternary salt of an essentially undegraded cellulose sulfate mixed with hydrocarbon oil followed by the injection of the composition with a post injection of an additional quantity of the quaternary salt in oil.

Control of incompetent formations with thickened acid-settable resin

Sand control in an incompetent formation is effected by squeezing a thickened composition [comprising a hydrocarbon oil carrier, particulate matter (e.g. sand) a base-settable thermosetting resin, a neutralizing agent (e.g. lauryl amine), a miscible polar solvent (e.g. ethanol), and a carboxy vinyl polymer (e.g. CARBOPOL 934)] in contact with the incompetent formation and curing with a basic catalyst.

Control of incompetent formations with thickened compositions containing

Sand control in an incompetent formation is effected by squeezing a thickened composition [comprising a hydrocarbon oil carrier, particulate matter (e.g. sand) a base-settable thermosetting resin, a neutralizing agent (e.g., lauryl amine), a miscible polar solvent (e.g. ethanol), and a carboxy vinyl polymer (e.g. CARBOPOL 934)] in contact with the incompetent formation and curing with a basic catalyst.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Thomas R Sifferman