Compositions for Plugging and Sealing a Subterranean Formation

Abstract

Compositions for treating a subterranean formation comprising a water-swellable agent and a sealing agent are described. Preferably, the water-swellable agent is a dehydrated polymer that forms a three-dimensional gel structure in water wherein the gel structure is a continuous mass both inside and outside the water-swellable agent. The sealing agent comprises a non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; a copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated ester; and at least one organic gelling agent.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A composition for treating a subterranean formation, the composition comprising:
 water;   a water-swellable agent, wherein the water-swellable agent is a dehydrated polymer; and,   a sealing agent comprising:
 a non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; 
 a copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated ester; and, 
 at least one organic gelling agent selected from the group consisting of: a polyalkylenimine; a polyfunctional aliphatic amine; an aralkylamine; a heteroaralkylamine; and any combination thereof; 
   wherein the water-swellable agent and the polymerizable water-soluble vinyl monomer are not the same; and,   wherein the sealing agent forms a three-dimensional gel structure in water wherein the gel structure is a continuous mass both inside and outside the water-swellable agent.   
     
     
         27 . The composition of claim  1 , wherein the water-swellable agent comprises at least one water-swellable agent selected from the group consisting of: a crosslinked polyacrylamide; a crosslinked polyacrylate; a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylate monomers; a starch backbone grafted with acrylonitrile and acrylate; a polymer of two or more of allylsulfonate; 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid; 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid; polyacrylamide; ploy(acrylic acid); a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile; a polymerized carboxyalkyl starch; a polymerized carboxymethyl starch; a polymerized carboxyalkyl polysaccharide; a crystalline polymer of a crosslinked polyacrylamide; a sodium acrylate-based polymer; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of claim  1 , wherein the water-swellable agent comprises a superabsorbent material. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of claim  1 , wherein,
 the water-swellable agent is capable of swelling at from about 10 weight to about 400 weight % in the presence of water.   
     
     
         30 . The composition of claim  1 , wherein,
 the water-swellable agent is capable of absorbing at least about 100 weight % of water; and,   the water-swellable agent is capable of swelling at least about 100 weight % when it absorbs water.   
     
     
         31 . The composition of claim  1 , wherein the gel structure is capable of substantially inhibiting the fluid of liquids there-through. 
     
     
         32 . A composition for treating a subterranean formation, the composition comprising:
 a water-swellable agent that is capable of absorbing at least about 100 weight % of water and is capable of swelling at least about 100 weight % when it absorbs water, wherein the water-swellable agent is a dehydrated polymer; and,   a sealing agent comprising:
 a non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; 
 a copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated ester; and, 
 at least one organic gelling agent selected from the group consisting of: a polyalkylenimine; a polyfunctional aliphatic amine; an aralkylamine; a heteroaralkylamine; and any combination thereof; 
   wherein the water-swellable agent and the polymerizable water-soluble vinyl monomer are not the same; and,   wherein the sealing agent forms a three-dimensional gel structure in water wherein the gel structure is a continuous mass both inside and outside the water-swellable agent.   
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the water-swellable agent comprises at least one water-swellable agent selected from the group consisting of: a crosslinked polyacrylamide; a crosslinked polyacrylate; a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylate monomers; a starch backbone grafted with acrylonitrile and acrylate; a polymer of two or more of allylsulfonate; 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid; 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid; polyacrylamide; ploy(acrylic acid); a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile; a polymerized carboxyalkyl starch; a polymerized carboxymethyl starch; a polymerized carboxyalkyl polysaccharide; a crystalline polymer of a crosslinked polyacrylamide; a sodium acrylate-based polymer; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the water-swellable agent comprises a superabsorbent material. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein,
 the water-swellable agent is capable of swelling at from about 100 weight % to about 400 weight % in the presence of water.   
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein the gel structure is capable of substantially inhibiting the fluid of liquids there-through. 
     
     
         37 . A composition for treating a subterranean formation, the composition comprising:
 a superabsorbent water-swellable agent in the form of a hard crystal that is capable of absorbing at least about 100 weight % of water and is capable of swelling at least about 100 weight % when it absorbs water; and,   a sealing agent comprising:
 a non-acidic ethylenically unsaturated polar monomer; 
 a copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated ester; and, 
 at least one organic gelling agent selected from the group consisting of: a polyalkylenimine; a polyfunctional aliphatic amine; an aralkylamine; a heteroaralkylamine; and any combination thereof; 
   wherein the water-swellable agent and the polymerizable water-soluble vinyl monomer are not the same;   wherein the water-swellable agent and the sealing agent form a three-dimensional gel structure in water wherein the gel structure is a continuous mass both inside and outside the water-swellable agent; and,   wherein the gel structure is capable of substantially inhibiting the fluid of liquids there-through.