Abstract: Methods for determining the gelation period of a gel solution are provided. The methods provided include introducing a first inert ball, or first inert hollow ball comprising a polymer solution, into a gel solution container containing a gel solution where upon the first inert ball, or inert hollow ball, reaching a bottom of the gel solution container, at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball, is introduced sequentially into the gel solution container until the at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball remains fixed in place prior to reaching the bottom of the gel solution container. Methods also include determining the gelation time of the gel solution based on a sum of distances traveled by the first inert ball, or inert hollow ball, and at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball.

Abstract: A method and a system to determine a gelation time of a substance in a container is disclosed. The system includes a container, a bubble generator arranged at a first end of the container, and a bubble sensor arranged at the second end of the container. The container holds a substance having a surface adjacent the second end. The bubble generator is configured to generate a bubble at the first end. The bubble sensor is configured to sense the bubble at the surface of the substance. The method includes releasing a gas into a first end of the container such that the gas bubbles rise from the first end of the container to a second end of the container, sensing the released bubbles, determining an absence of a bubble released by the bubble generator at the bubble sensor, and determining a gelation time based on a number of detected bubbles.

Abstract: Methods for determining the gelation period of a gel solution are provided. The methods provided include introducing an inert ball into each of a plurality of gel solution containers having a gel solution therein. In the method, the inert balls are then allowed to sink to the bottom of the containers, followed by a step of repeatedly inverting a first gel solution container at specified time intervals until the onset of gelation of the first gel solution is observed. Methods further include repeatedly inverting an additional gel solution container at specified intervals where each of the subsequent gel solution containers containing the inert balls and gel solutions are sequentially inverted in series until the inert ball is observed to remain fixed in place in the solution.

Abstract: Methods for determining the gelation period of a gel solution are provided. The methods provided include introducing a first inert ball, or first inert hollow ball comprising a polymer solution, into a gel solution container containing a gel solution where upon the first inert ball, or inert hollow ball, reaching a bottom of the gel solution container, at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball, is introduced sequentially into the gel solution container until the at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball remains fixed in place prior to reaching the bottom of the gel solution container. Methods also include determining the gelation time of the gel solution based on a sum of distances traveled by the first inert ball, or inert hollow ball, and at least one subsequent inert ball, or inert hollow ball.

Abstract: Methods for determining the gelation period of a gel solution are provided. The methods provided include introducing an inert ball into each of a plurality of gel solution containers having a gel solution therein. In the method, the inert balls are then allowed to sink to the bottom of the containers, followed by a step of repeatedly inverting a first gel solution container at specified time intervals until the onset of gelation of the first gel solution is observed. Methods further include repeatedly inverting an additional gel solution container at specified intervals where each of the subsequent gel solution containers containing the inert balls and gel solutions are sequentially inverted in series until the inert ball is observed to remain fixed in place in the solution.