The objective of gel treatments and similar blocking-agent
treatments is to reduce channeling through fractures or high-permeability
zones without significantly damaging hydrocarbon productivity. We wish
to maximize gel penetration and permeability reduction in high-permeability,
watered-out zones, while minimizing gel penetration and permeability reduction
in less-permeable, hydrocarbon-productive zones. When practical, this
objective can be met by mechanically isolating zones during the gel-placement
process, so that gel injection occurs only in the high-permeability, watered-out
zones. When zone isolation is not practical, we need to know when an effective
gel placement can be achieved. Although we have performed and published
considerable work on this topic, many people have requested a manageable
summary of our knowledge to date. This report presents that summary. Detailed
documentation of each concept can be found in the references.
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