Patent ID: 9605520
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A process for isolating and treating a first fluid producing zone of an underground formation in an earthen well where the well includes a second fluid producing zone and a filter media within an annular production space extending between a tubular production pipe and the underground formation or casing pipe, where access from the surface through the tubular production pipe to the second fluid producing zone is preserved for subsequent production following the isolating and treating procedure, wherein the process for isolating the first zone comprises: a) installing a removable sealing element into the tubular production pipe at a level further into the ground than the first fluid producing zone; b) injecting a settable or reactive low viscosity permeability poison into the tubular production pipe and out into the filter media in the annular production space to fill a segment of the filter media in the annular production space between the first and second fluid producing zones to eventually separate and substantially seal the first and second zones from one another against fluid flow in the filter media in the annular production space; c) converting the settable or reactive low viscosity permeability poison in the filter media into a fluid seal forming a barrier against flow within a sand control screen in the annular production space; d) injecting a treatment material into the tubular production pipe onto the fluid seal and through the annular production space and into the formation at the first fluid producing zone; and, e) opening up the interior of the tubular production pipe to regain access to the second fluid producing zone by removing portions of said treatment material, the fluid seal and an isolation material within the tubular production pipe so that fluids may enter the production pipe from the second zone and be extracted to the surface past the now treated first fluid producing zone.