Patent ID: 8143199

Claim:
A method of enhancing the stability of an unconsolidated portion of a subterranean formation that comprises water, comprising: contacting the unconsolidated portion of the subterranean formation with a treatment fluid comprising an oil based fluid and an organoaluminum compound, the organoaluminum compound being capable of reacting with the water in the unconsolidated portion of the subterranean formation to at least partially enhance the stability of the unconsolidated portion of the subterranean formation, wherein the organoaluminum compound comprises at least one organoaluminum compound selected from the group consisting of: an aluminum alkoxide, an aluminum butoxide, an aluminum tri-isopropoxide, an aluminum sec-butoxide di-isopropoxide, an aluminum tri-isoproxide octanol, an aluminum ethylacetoacetate di-isopropoxide, an aluminum ethylacetoacetate di-octoxide, and any combination thereof and wherein the organoaluminum compound is present in the treatment fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.05 g/L to about 100 g/L.