MODIFYING THE PERMEABILITY OF FORMATIONS BY INJECTING PHENOLIC GELS

摘要

Hydrocarbon recovery from subterranean reservoirs that are penetrated by either injector or producer wells is enhanced by selective permeability modification of the strata of the reservoir with gel-forming phenolic compositions. The injection of the phenolic composition follows a pH sequence specific to the reservoir environment which allows emplacement of the gel-forming composition the desired distance away from the wellbore and production of a uniform gel throughout the treated hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. The permeability of a treated subterranean reservoir can be restored by treatment of the reservoir with either aqueous hypochlorite or mineral acid.