PROCESS FOR THE REVERSIBLE CONSOLIDATION OF SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS

摘要

Porous, subterranean oil bearing formations penetrated by at least one wellbore are temporarily and reversibly plugged/sealed, by injecting therein a solution of an alkali metal silicate and a gelling agent therefor, permitting said alkali metal silicate and said gelling agent to harden into a relatively impermeable gel, maintaining said gel for period of plugging/sealing time desired, and thence disintegrating said relatively impermeable gel to substantially restore the initial porosity of said formation.