Abstract: The injectivity of an oil-containing reservoir is increased by injecting successive portions of a solution or slightly turbid dispersion of reservoir-tailored amounts of polyalkoxyalcohol sulfate surfactant and lower alkanol in highly saline aqueous liquid and a reservoir acidizing solution.

Abstract: Openings such as the pores of a permeable subterranean earth formation are plugged by inflowing a slurry of fine solid particles suspended in an aqueous emulsion that contains a dispersed oil-phase solution of a polyepoxide, an aminosilane, and a tertiary nitrogen-containing amine which is capable of causing the polyepoxide to polymerize while causing the particles to become oil-wet.

Abstract: In well treatments such as workovers, fracturing processes, etc., permeable subterranean earth formations are temporarily plugged by contacting them with self thickening-and-thinning liquid systems. The systems initially contain unhydrated cellulose ether dispersed in aqueous liquid solutions of buffering agents, pH-increasing reactants and pH-decreasing reactants. The system components are arranged so that the cellulose ether hydration is first delayed by a buffer-maintained acidity, then is accelerated by an increasing pH and, subsequently, the high viscosity due to the dissolved hydrated cellulose ether is reduced by an acid-induced hydrolysis of the ether.

Abstract: A process for plugging a subterranean earth formation by injecting an asphalt-containing emulsion is improved by a cationic emulsifier and a pH increasing reactant that induces the breaking of the emulsion in response to a time-temperature exposure of selected extent.

Abstract: Particles are resin-coated in a remote location, such as a subterranean reservoir or a sand or gravel pack, by contacting them with a cationic aqueous emulsion which contains a resin-forming mixture of a polyepoxide and a relatively water-soluble tertiary-amine that is capable of both catalyzing the polymerization of the polyepoxide and oil-wetting of solid surfaces.

Abstract: A subterranean region is plugged by flowing into it an aqueous emulsion containing an epoxy-resin-forming polyepoxy polymer, an acrylic-resin-forming polycarboxy polymer, and a material for controlling the rate of the interaction of said polymers, with the proportions of said materials arranged to cause the emulsion to become a resinous plug after being emplaced.