Patent ID: 7308936

Claim:
A method of improving the pressure containment integrity in successively drilled subterranean well bore intervals penetrating one or more subterranean formations and containing a drilling or a completion fluid comprising the steps of: (a) determining the pressure containment integrity of a first drilled well bore interval; (b) if it is determined in step (a) that said pressure containment integrity is inadequate in said first well bore interval, pumping a fracture sealing composition into said first well bore interval; (c) squeezing said fracture sealing composition into one or more natural fractures in said well bore interval or into one or more new fractures formed in said well bore interval to thereby increase said pressure containment integrity of said well bore, said fracture sealing composition having the property of rapidly converting into high viscosity sealing masses which are diverted into and cause a near well bore widening of said fracture(s) upon commingling and reacting of said composition with oil, water or other components in said drilling fluid or completion fluid, with delayed set sealants or with formation or other fluids in said well bore, said sealing masses having viscosities in the range of from about 1,000 centipoises to about 10,000,000 centipoises; and (d) repeating step (a) and if necessary, steps (b) and (c) for each additional drilled well bore interval until the total well depth is reached.