US3756315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrated metal oxide deposition
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1972-01-27
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1992-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A treating liquid for depositing a hydrated metal oxide comprises a basic aqueous solution of an oxide of an amphoteric metal and a pH reducing reactant that subsequently lowers the pH of the solution to one at which a hydrated oxide of the amphoteric metal is precipitated. The treating liquid can provide a single step process for consolidating or plugging a sand and/or can comprise a sand consolidating or plugging component of a drilling, fracturing, perforating, oil-displacing, or the like, type of fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 R Scheurman
- 👤 E Richardson
- 👤 G Suman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:45
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/66; C09K8/665; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/5045; C09K8/56; C09K8/57; C09K8/572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 11 in which said amphoteric metal oxide is an aluminum oxide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
The process of claim 11 in which: the pH and rate of pH reduction of said treating liquid is adjusted so that the precipitation within an increment of treating liquid begins substantially as soon as that increment has been pumped into contact with said granular material; and a plurality of increments of said treating liquid are pumped into successive contacts with said granular material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 3 in which: said granular material to be consolidated consists essentially of an unconsolidated reservoir sand encountered by said well; and the depth of penetration of both said treating liquid and said deposition of hydrated metal oxide within the reservoir sand is extended by using a pH reducing reactant material that reacts relatively slowly at the temperature of the reservoir sand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The process of claim 1 in which: the pH and rate of pH reduction of said tReating liquid is adjusted so that the precipitation within each increment of the treating liquid is delayed for a significant time after each increment has been pumped into contact with said granular material; and a slug of said treating liquid is pumped into contact with said granular material and allowed to remain substantially static until the precipitation occurs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 in which a slug of acidizing fluid is pumped into the well ahead of a slug of said treating liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 in which a slug of a sand or gravel-containing slurry for forming a sand or gravel pack in the well is pumped into the well ahead of a slug of said treating liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
An earth formation plugging well treating process for plugging an earth formation encountered by the borehole of a well, comprising: compounding a hydrated metal oxide-depositing treating liquid comprising a basic aqueous solution of an amphoteric metal oxide and a pH reducing reactant that is adapted to lower the pH of the solution to one at which a hydrated metal oxide is precipitated after a time sufficient for fluid to be pumped from a surface location to a location at which said earth formation to be plugged is encountered; and pumping said treating liquid into the well so that the solution is disposed within said earth formation when the hydrated metal oxide is precipitated in an amount sufficient to effect said plugging.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The process of claim 16 in which: said basic aqueous solution is pumped to a point of entry into said earth formation at a selected rate and pressure that provides a selected rate of inflow into the earth formation; and as the permeability of said earth formation is decreased, increasing proportions of said liquid are diverted away from the earth formation, sub-stantially as required to maintain said selected rate of flow between the surface location and the point of entry into the earth formation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A sand consolidating fracturing process, comprising: hydraulically fracturing a subterranean earth formation; pumping into said earth formation a treating liquid comprising a basic aqueous solution of an amphoteric metal oxide and a pH reducing reactant adapted to lower the pH of the solution to one at which a hydrated metal oxide is precipitated; and adjusting the pH and rate of pH reduction of said treatment liquid so that the precipitation within each increment of treatment liquid is delayed substantially until that increment has been pumped into said earth formation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sand consolidating process for perforating a casing in a well borehole, comprising: displacing a slug of a treating liquid comprising a basic aqueous solution of an amphoteric metal oxide and a pH reducing reactant adapted to lower the pH of the solution to one at which a hydrated metal oxide is precipitated into a cased section of borehole in which the casing is to be perforated; adjusting the pH and rate of pH reduction of said treating liquid so that the precipitation within each increment of treatment liquid is delayed for a significant time after that increment has been displaced within said cased section of borehole; and perforating said casing while controlling the flow of fluid through the perforations so that said treating liquid is substantially the first fluid to flow from the borehole to the surrounding reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
A sand consolidating oil-displacing process, comprising: compounding an oil-displacing surfactant system containing a liquid phase which is a basic aqueous solution of an amphoteric metal oxide and a pH reducing reactant adapted to lower the pH of the solution to one at which a hydrated metal oxide is precipitated; displacing the surfactant system into an oil-containing permeable earth formation to displace oil; and adjusting the pH and rate of pH reduction in said aqueous solution so that in each increment of the solution, the precipitation of hydrated metAl oxide occurs after said increment has been displaced into said earth formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |