Abstract: A method of treating an earthen formation containing swelling clays or migrating fines or combinations thereof to reduce the loss of permeability in said formation. The method is carried out by contacting the swelling clays or fines with an effective amount of an organic polycationic polymer which contains three quaternary ammonium moieties in the monomer repeat unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of viscosifying aqueous fluids and a viscosifying composition which when admixed with an aqueous fluid produces a viscosity increase in the fluid in excess of the additive viscosity of the individual composition components. The viscosifying composition comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of (i) sulfonated guar and a compound comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, guar, hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar derivatives, hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatives and (ii) cationic guar and a compound comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar derivatives, hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of viscosifying aqueous fluids and a viscosifying composition which when admixed with an aqueous fluid produces a viscosity increase in the fluid in excess of the additive viscosity of the individual composition components. The viscosifying composition comprises xanthan gum and at least one member selected from the group consisting of the ammonium, hydrogen or alkali metal salts of polystyrene sulfonate, polyvinyl sulfonate and hydrolyzed copolymers of styrene sulfonate and maleic anhydride.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing fines within a permeable subterranean formation comprising contacting the fines with an effective amount of an organic polycationic polymer which contain two quaternary ammonium moieties in the polymer repeating unit.

Abstract: A method of preventing permeability damage due to clay swelling, disintegration and migration in subterranean formations producing oil and gas, where such formations are to be the subject of enhanced oil recovery techniques using anionic or caustic flood chemicals. Prior to the use of such enhanced oil recovery techniques, a cationic organic polymer capable of stabilizing clays is introduced into an oil reservoir treatment area followed by introduction of a sufficient amount of a non-anionic aqueous spacer fluid to cause the cationic organic polymer to reorient itself on the reservoir clays in a substantially monomolecular layer and manner such that it will continue to stabilize the reservoir clays but will not substantially react with the anionic or caustic flood chemicals to form permeability damaging precipitates or to decompose thereby reducing its clay stabilization effectiveness.

Abstract: Methods of preparing viscous aqueous polymer solutions having improved viscosity and stability properties for use in the treatment of subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formations and in enhanced oil recovery processes are provided. Methods and systems for enhancing the recovery of oil from subterranean oil-containing formations are also provided. The viscous aqueous polymer solutions of the invention are prepared by polymerizing one or more water soluble polymerizable vinyl monomers in a substantially oxygen-free aqueous solvent and then further diluting the resultant concentrated solution in additional solvent. Such viscous aqueous polymer solutions have improved viscosity properties and increased compatibility with oil well treating fluid additives, especially clay stabilizers.

Abstract: This invention provides novel aqueous fluid compositions which comprise a synergistic mixture of two classes of water dispersible or soluble polymers, i.e. (1) synthetic polymeric viscosifier and (2) polycationic organic polymer. These compositions are uniquely adapted for use in enhanced oil recovery. Addition of the polycationic organic polymer reduces the solution viscosity, increases the injectivity of the aqueous solution into low permeability formations. This reaction also reduces the shear degradation of the polymers during pumping, injection through the perforations, and during the period of relatively rapid fluid movement as the solution moves through an earthen or subterranean formation in the important zone within about a ten foot radius around the well bore. Once in an earthen formation, the polycationic organic polymer is rapidly adsorbed from the solution resulting in an increase in solution viscosity and improving the mobility ratio and also resulting in enhanced and/or increased oil recovery.

Abstract: A process for treating a subterranean formation with an aqueous cement composition and minimizing damage to formation permeability by said composition filtrate comprising mixing with said composition at least one polycationic polymer having a molecular weight of about 400 to 6,000,000 prior to treating said formation.