Plugging subterranean earth formations with aqueous epoxy emulsions containing fine solid particles

Claim 2

A process for plugging openings within a region into which fluid can be flowed, comprising: compounding an oil-phase liquid solution of a polymerizable polyepoxide and a relatively water-soluble tertiary nitrogen-containing amine that is capable of both catalyzing the polyepoxide polymerization and oil-wetting a solid surface; dispersing the oil-phase liquid solution in an aqueous liquid to form an oil-in-water cationic emulsion which is capable of wetting solid surfaces with a resin-forming solution which will subsequently form a solid resin; mixing the emulsion with solid particles, which are at least about as finely divided as a silt, and with an aminoalkoxy silane which is capable of enhancing the oil-wetting of the surfaces of those particles with the oil-phase liquid component of the emulsion; and flowing the resultant fine solids-containing suspension into and keeping it relatively static within the openings to be plugged, until the resin-forming components have formed a solid resin.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 in which the finely divided particles are substantially clay-sized siliceous particles.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 in which the aminoalkoxy silane is gamma-aminopropyltriethoxy silane.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 in which the resultant suspension is substantially free of any particles significantly larger than silt-sized particles.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 in which the suspension contains sufficient particles of significantly larger size to provide a pore-bridging mixture of particle sizes.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 in which the tertiary nitrogen-containing amine is dimethylaminomethylphenol.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 in which the aqueous liquid is water that has been viscosified with hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Claim 9

The process of claim 7 in which an oxidizing agent is added to the viscosified aqueous liquid to reduce its viscosity in a time delayed fashion.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 in which ammonium persulfate is the oxidizing agent.

Claim 11

A process for plugging openings within a near bottom portion of a well, comprising: compounding an oil-phase liquid solution of a polymerizable polyepoxide and a relatively water-soluble tertiary nitrogen-containing amine that is capable of both catalyzing the polyepoxide polymerization and oil-wetting a solid surface; dispersing the oil-phase solution in an aqueous liquid to form an oil-in-water cationic emulsion which is capable of wetting solid surfaces with a resin-forming solution which will subsequently form a solid resin; mixing the emulsion with solid particles, which are at least about as finely divided as a silt, and with an aminoalkoxy silane which is capable of enhancing the oil-wetting of the surfaces of those particles with the oil-phase liquid component of the emulsion; adjusting the concentration of the suspension relative to the time-temperature exposure of a fluid into a near bottom portion of the well within a dump bailing device capable of discharging fluid within a well; circulating fluid into the well bottom and out of the well top to the extent necessar to

Claim 12

A process for plugging openings within a near bottom portion of a well, comprising: compounding an oil-phase liquid solution of a polymerizable polyepoxide and a relatively water-soluble tertiary nitrogen-containing amine that is capable of both catalyzing the polyepoxide polymerization and oil-wetting a solid surface; dispersing the oil-phase solution in an aqueous liquid to form an oil-in-water cationic emulsion which is capable of wetting solid surfaces with a resin-forming solution which will subsequently form a solid resin; mixing the emulsion with solid particles, which are at least about as finely divided as a silt, and with an aminoalkoxy silane which is capable of enhancing the oil-wetting of the surfaces of those particles with the oil-phase liquid component of the emulsion; adjusting the concentration of the suspension relative to the time-temperature exposure of a fluid into a near bottom portion of the well within a dump bailing device capable of discharging fluid within a well; circulating fluid into the well bottom and out of the well top to the extent necessar to