Patent ID: 8657005
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: C09K,E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a barrier between a high permeability subterranean region and a low permeability subterranean region, wherein the high permeability subterranean region is in fluid communication with the low permeability subterranean region, the high permeability subterranean region includes a plurality of high permeability pores with an average high permeability pore throat radius, the low permeability subterranean region includes a plurality of low permeability pores with an average low permeability pore throat radius, and the average high permeability pore throat radius is larger than the average low permeability pore throat radius, the method comprising: providing a pore throat blocking mixture that comprises water and a pore throat blocking agent, wherein the pore throat blocking mixture has a viscosity and the pore throat blocking agent is configured to pass through the average high permeability pore throat radius but to occlude the average low permeability pore throat radius; supplying the pore throat blocking mixture to the high permeability subterranean region; flowing at least a portion of the water of the pore throat blocking mixture through an interface between the high permeability subterranean region and the low permeability subterranean region; and occluding the plurality of low permeability pores with the pore throat blocking agent at the interface to form a macroscopic fluid flow barrier.