Reactive sealing compositions for sealing hydrocarbon containing subterranean formations and methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a sealing composition for sealing a portion of a subterranean formation to prevent a flow of a liquid hydrocarbon into or from the portion of the subterranean formation and associated methods of use. The sealing compositions are basically comprised of water, a hydraulic cement, an organophillic clay, a hydratable gelling agent, and a water soluble alkaline source in effective amounts.

1 . A sealing composition for sealing a portion of a subterranean formation to prevent a flow of a liquid hydrocarbon into or from the portion of the subterranean formation comprising: 
 a water present in an amount in the range of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the composition;    a hydraulic cement present in an amount in the range of from about 15% to about 75% by weight of the composition;    an organophillic clay present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 60% by weight of the composition;    a hydratable gelling agent present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight of the composition; and    a water soluble alkaline source.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water and salt water.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic cement is selected from the group consisting of Portland cements, pozzolanic cements, gypsum cements, aluminous cements, silica cements, and slag cements.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydraulic cement is Portland cement.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the organophillic clay is an alkyl quaternary ammonium bentonite clay.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydratable gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of one or more of guar gum, hydroxypropylguar, carboxymethylguar, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose, locust bean gum, carragenan gum, xanthan gum, and welan gum.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydratable gelling agent is welan gum.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the water soluble alkaline source is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium aluminate, and sodium carbonate and is present in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  which further comprises a particulate calcium carbonate present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  which further comprises a dispersing agent present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  wherein the dispersing agent is the condensation reaction product of acetone, formaldehyde, and sodium sulfite, or the condensation reaction product of sodium naphthalene sulfonate and formaldehyde, and sodium-N-methyl-N-oleyltaurine mixed with sulfate liquor.  
     
     
         12 . A sealing composition for sealing a portion of a subterranean formation to prevent a flow of a liquid hydrocarbon into or from the portion of the subterranean formation comprising: 
 a water present in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 50% by weight of the composition;    a Portland cement present in an amount in the range of from about 20% to about 45% by weight of the composition;    an alkyl quaternary ammonium bentonite clay present in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the composition;    a welan gum present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight of the composition; and    a sodium carbonate present in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition.    
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water and salt water.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12  which further comprises particulate calcium carbonate present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12  which further comprises a dispersing agent present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  wherein the dispersing agent is the condensation product of acetone, formaldehyde and sodium sulfite, or the condensation reaction product of sodium naphthalene sulfonate and formaldehyde, and sodium-N-methyl-N-oleyltaurine mixed with sulfate liquor.  
     
     
         17 . A sealing method of sealing a portion of a subterranean formation to prevent a flow of a liquid hydrocarbon into or from the portion of the subterranean formation comprising the steps of: 
 providing a subterranean formation sealing composition comprising water, a hydraulic cement, an organophillic clay, a hydratable gelling agent, and a water soluble alkaline source; and    introducing the subterranean formation sealing composition into the subterranean formation.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water and salt water and is present in an amount in the range of from about 15% to about 60% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the hydraulic cement is Portland cement and is present in an amount in the range of from about 15% to about 75% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the organophillic clay is an alkyl quaternary ammonium bentonite clay and is present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the hydratable gelling agent is a welan gum and is present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the water soluble alkaline source is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium aluminate, and sodium carbonate and is present in an amount in the range of from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sealing composition further comprises particulate calcium carbonate present in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sealing composition further comprises a dispersing agent present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the dispersing agent is the condensation reaction product of acetone, formaldehyde and sodium sulfite, and is present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         26 . A sealing method of sealing a portion of a subterranean formation to prevent a flow of a liquid hydrocarbon into or from the portion of the subterranean formation comprising the steps of: 
 providing a subterranean formation sealing composition comprising water, a hydraulic cement, an organophillic clay, a hydratable gelling agent and a water soluble alkaline source; and    introducing the subterranean formation sealing composition into the subterranean formation such that the sealing composition contacts the liquid hydrocarbon thereby forming a sealing mass.