Abstract: A method for injecting water into fluid storing rocks containing clay minerals, in particular in hydrocarbon sites formed by sandstones, sands, marlaceous sandstones, water storing rocks, geothermic circulation sites, in zones in the vicinity of wells, extending to large sites. Continuously or discontinuously compounds are introduced into the storing rocks having a hydrated cation diameter in the range between 0.13 and 0.15 nm, a coordination number 12. The compounds are preferably potassium-, and/or ammonium-, and/or zirconium salts. Depending on the clay content of the storing rock, stabilization is performed by using a solution of the enumerated salts in a concentration of 0.1-500 g/l, advantageously 0.1 to 300 g/l, and in a quantity of 0.5 to 5000 m.sup.3, preferably 50 to 3000 m.sup.3, which is related to the vertical dimension of the rock, expressed in meters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for stabilizing the clay minerals in reservoir rocks containing oil, in particular in rock comprising sandstones, sand, or marliceous sandstones as well as eliminating the electrostatic dispersion and swelling of the clays when steam injection is used for mineral oil exploitation. According to the process, cations capable of stabilizing the reservoir rock, having a hydrated diameter of 0.13 to 0.15 nm, preferably potassium and/or ammonium and/or zirconium ions are introduced in the form of a 0.01 to 5.0 N aqueous solution or in the form of a vapor mixture or a mixture of steam and gas(es).