Abstract: The permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation is controlled by the injection of an aqueous solution of a cross-linked block copolymer containing polar and non-polar segments, with the polar segments generally making up as least 50 percent, usually 60 to 99 percent, of the copolymer. The polar segments are derived from an alkylene oxide and the non-polar segments from styrene or an alkyl styrene either by itself or with a diene. The copolymers are cross-linked with an amino resin or a combination of a phenolic and a water-dispersible aldehyde component. The resulting copolymer gels are stable at low pH conditions, such as those of CO.sub.2 flood conditions.

Abstract: The permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation is controlled by the injection of an aqueous solution of a cross-linked block copolymer containing polar and non-polar segments, with the polar segments generally making up at least 50 percent, usually 60 to 99 percent, of the copolymer. The polar segments are derived from an alkylene oxide and the non-polar segments from styrene or an alkyl styrene either by itself or with a diene. The copolymers are cross-linked with an amino resin or a combination of a phenolic and a water-dispersible aldehyde component. The resulting copolymer gels are stable at low pH conditions, such as those of CO.sub.2 flood conditions.