Sodium hydroxide treatment of field water in a biopolymer complex

摘要

A method for reducing the gelation time of a biopolysaccharide which utilizes a hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal in an aqueous solution containing said biopolysaccharide wherein the mixture is afterwards complexed with a polyvalent metal ion. The resultant stable gel can be injected into a hydrocarbonaceous fluid formation for the recovery of hydrocarbonaceous fluids.