Patent ID: 8403047
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
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 further into the ground than the first zone and a sand or gravel filter element within an annular production space between a tubular production pipe and the underground formation or casing pipe where access from the surface through the production pipe to the second fluid producing zone is preserved for subsequent production following the isolating and treating procedure, where the process for isolating the first zone comprises: a) installing a wireline or coiled tubing removable plug into the tubular production pipe at a level further into the ground than the first fluid producing zone; b) injecting a settable, low viscosity permeability poison into the production pipe and out into the sand or gravel element in the annular production space outside of the tubular production pipe and extending laterally to the casing pipe or formation to fill a longitudinal segment of the sand or gravel element 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 sand or gravel element in the annular production space; c) converting the low viscosity permeability poison into a fluid seal forming a longitudinal barrier against flow within the sand control screen in the annular production space; d) injecting a treatment into the tubular production pipe onto the fluid seal and laterally 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 a 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.