Patent ID: 7151078

Claim:
A method of forming a controlled-gelation solution, the method comprising: providing an aqueous solution containing 1,5 to 10 wt % of a hydrophobically-aggregating gelling agent which is a water-soluble co-polymer comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer units, the aqueous solution further containing a surfactant which forms a complex with the water-soluble co-polymer, and introducing into the aqueous solution an effective amount of an inhibitor which suppresses hydrophobic aggregation of the gelling agent, the inhibitor being soluble in water so that when the aqueous solution contacts aqueous media the inhibitor disperses and gelation occurs, and the inhibitor further being substantially insoluble in hydrocarbons so that when the aqueous solution contacts hydrocarbon media the inhibitor continues to suppress said hydrophobic aggregation and gelation is suppressed.