Patent ID: 8251141

Claim:
A method comprising: providing a carrier fluid comprising an aqueous-based component, a water-soluble relative permeability modifier, and gravel particulates, wherein the water-soluble relative permeability modifier suspends at least a portion of the gravel particulates, wherein the water-soluble relative permeability modifier comprises a polymer backbone that comprises polar heteroatoms, and wherein the water-soluble relative permeability modifier: is a hydrophobically modified polymer that comprises a reaction product of a hydrophobic compound and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the hydrophobic compound is selected from the group consisting of an anhydride of octenyl succinic acid, an ester of octenyl succinic acid, an imide of octenyl succinic acid, an amide of octenyl succinic acid, an anhydride of dodecenyl succinic acid, an ester of dodecenyl succinic acid, an imide of dodecenyl succinic acid, and an amide of dodecenyl succinic acid; and exhibits a mole ratio of hydrophilic monomer to the hydrophobic compound of from 99.98:0.02 to 90:10 wherein the hydrophilic monomer is a calculated amount present in the hydrophilic polymer; and, introducing the carrier fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation, such that the gravel particulates form a gravel pack near the well bore, such that the water-soluble relative permeability modifier reduces the water permeability of the gravel pack.