Abstract: A process utilizing an emulsion of a carbon dioxide phase and an aqueous phase is provided to enhance oil recovery from a subterranean formation. The aqueous phase is in a liquid state and is made up of a water-soluble polymer and surfactant dissolved within an aqueous solvent. The emulsion is prepared by condensing the carbon dioxide to a supercritical state under elevated pressure either at the surface or in situ. The carbon dioxide phase is mixed with the aqueous phase either prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to the condensation step. Placement of the emulsion in the formation via an injection well enables recovery of oil from the formation via a production well in accordance with one of several embodiments. In one embodiment, the emulsion functions as an oil displacement fluid. In other embodiments, the emulsion functions as a mobility control fluid or a conformance improvement treatment composition in conjunction with an oil displacement flood.

Abstract: A process is provided for promoting oil production from a producing interval of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by reducing undesirable gas production therefrom due to gas override or gas channeling in the upper portion of the interval. A polymer enhanced foam containing a polymer, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is placed in the upper portion of the producing interval, thereby substantially inhibiting or blocking the flow of gas therethrough to an oil production wellbore in fluid communication with the producing interval and enabling oil to more readily enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the inhibiting effect of gas coning on liquid hydrocarbon production at a production wellbore penetrating a subterranean reservoir having a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone in fluid communication with the gas cap across vertical flowpaths of gas-permeable matrix. A foamed gel containing a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is injected through the production wellbore into gas-permeable matrix between the gas cap and wellbore, thereby effectively blocking or reducing the downward flow of gas from the gas cap to the production wellbore and enabling the more desirable liquid hydrocarbons to enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the inhibiting effect of gas coning on liquid hydrocarbon production into a production wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation having a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone in fluid communication with the gas cap. A polymer enhanced foam containing a polymer, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is placed in gas-permeable anomalies or matrix between the production wellbore and gas cap, thereby effectively blocking the downward flow of gas from the gas cap to the production wellbore and enabling desirable liquid hydrocarbons to more readily enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

Abstract: A polymer enhanced foam comprising a polymer selected from a synthetic polymer or a biopolymer, a surfactant, an aqueous solvent and a gas is injected into a fractured subterranean formation via a first well in fluid communication with the formation and preferentially enters fractures present in the formation. The injected polymer enhanced foam promotes the recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from said formation via the first well or a second well in fluid communication with the formation.

Abstract: A foam is provided having utility for improving sweep efficiency in subterranean oil-bearing formations and having specific utility for conformance improvement treatments and mobility control in such formations. The foam is a gel medium having a gas dispersed therein. The gel medium is made up of a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, a surfactant and a liquid solvent.

Abstract: A process is provided for sand consolidation treatment in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon production well bore. An immature flowing gel is injected through the well bore into a treatment zone of the formation and followed by an overdisplacement fluid which displaces a portion of the immature gel from the zone. Displacement of a portion of the immature gel from the zone establishes flow pathways through the zone for subsequent hydrocarbon production while the gel remaining in the zone matures and effectively consolidates the sand therein.

Abstract: Undesirable fluid flow is inhibited between a near well bore interval and an underlying aquifer in fluid communication therewith. A permeability-reducing material is injected into the near well bore interval and a portion of the material is selectively overdisplaced out into the formation by means of a low density gas subsequently injected into the interval. The gas desirably restores hydrocarbon productivity or fluid injectivity to the interval while the permeability-reducing material remaining in the interval inhibits fluid communication between the interval and the aquifer.

Abstract: A nonflowing crosslinked polymer gel is employed as a well kill material in a process for preventing or minimizing the intrusion of formation fluid into a wellbore while preventing or minimizing wellbore fluid leakoff in the formation during conventional oil field wellbore operations in the wellbore. The gel comprises an a carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A flowing crosslinked polymer gel is employed as a lost circulation fluid in a process for reducing lost circulation during an oil field drilling operation. The lost circulation fluid comprises a carboxylate-containing polymer, a chromic carboxylate crosslinking agent, and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A nonflowing crosslinked polymer gel is employed in a lost circulation treatment for reducing lost circulation during an oil field drilling operation. The nonflowing gel comprises a carboxylate-containing polymer, a chromic carboxylate crosskinging agent, and an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A flowing crosslinked polymer gel is employed as a kill fluid or as an additive to a kill fluid in a process for preventing the intrusion of formation fluid into a wellbore while minimizing wellbore fluid leakoff in the formation during conventional oil field operations in the wellbore. The gel comprises a carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A process for treating a region in a high-temperature hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a gel for hydrocarbon recovery applications. The gel is prepared by mixing a single aqueous gelation system at the surface comprising a solution of a polyvalent metal crosslinking agent and an unhydrolyzed acrylamide polymer. The system is injected into a desired treatment region of the high-temperature formation wherein the polymer is hydrolyzed in situ. The gelation system is then gelled to completion in the treatment region.

Abstract: A subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation is hydraulically fractured using a crosslinked polymer gel as a fracturing fluid. The gel comprises a high molecular weight, water-soluble, carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate complex crosslinking agent. The gel components are premixed at the surface and injected into a wellbore in fluid communication with the formation at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture the formation.

Abstract: A process for controlling the gelation rate of a carboxylate-containing polymer used in oil recovery applications. A gel is prepared by mixing a single aqueous gelation solution at the surface made up of the polymer and a crosslinking agent containing a chromic carboxylate complex and an inorganic chromic salt. The concentration of the inorganic chromic salt is selected at a level which achieves the desired rate of gelation for a given application.

Abstract: A process for delaying the gelation rate of a polymer used in oil recovery applications. A gel is prepared by mixing a single aqueous gelation solution at the surface made up of a polyvalent metal cross-linking agent and a polyacrylamide having no hydrolysis or only a limited degree of hydrolysis. The solution is injected into a desired treatment region and gelled to completion in situ.

Abstract: Conformance improvement is achieved in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation using a gel comprising a high molecular weight, water-soluble, carboxylate-containing polymer, a chromium III/carboxylate complex capable of crosslinking the polymer and an aqueous solvent. The gel components are combined at the surface and injected into the desired treatment zone via a wellbore to form a continuous single-phase gel.

Abstract: An abandoned well penetrating a subterranean formation is plugged using a gel comprising a high molecular weight, water-soluble carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate complex crosslinking agent. The gel components are combined at the surface and injected into the wellbore to form a continuous single-phase gel therein.

Abstract: A tubing/casing annulus in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation is plugged using a gel comprising a high molecular weight, water-soluble carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate complex crosslinking agent. The gel components are combined at the surface and injected into the annulus to form a continuous single-phase gel therein.

Abstract: A volume in or near a wellbore penetrating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation is plugged using a cementing gel comprising a high molecular weight, water-soluble carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate complex crosslinking agent. The gel components are combined at the surface and injected into the volume via the wellbore to form a continuous single-phase gel therein.