Abstract:
A method for plugging waterflood zones through the in situ production of gelatinous materials derived from injecting a solution containing a water-soluble bivalent metal salt and a water-soluble polymer of high molecular weight having groups chemically reactive with trivalent metal ions into a waterflood zone followed by the injection of air which converts bivalent metal ions to trivalent metal ions thereby resulting in the aforementioned gelatinous plugging material.
Abstract:
The configuration of a nuclear cavity is controlled and/or enlarged by placing auxiliary conventional explosives, directional explosives or small nuclear charges approximately at the circumference of the chimney or cavity expected and exploding these simultaneously or sequentially before, during and/or after the nuclear shock to create a cavity of desired shape which preferably will be substantially cylindrical. In one embodiment, the invention is applied to the enlargement and control of the shape of the desired cylindrical hole or cavity shot in oil shale thus to substantially enlarge the underground retort volume and amount of shale oil which can be recovered from a given formation area. In an embodiment described, the auxiliary explosives surround the expected cavity just outside its circumference. There are placed in the roof as well as at different levels across the cross-sectional area of the expected hole additional auxiliary explosives wherewith to control the roof configuration and to further enlarge the cavity, if needed. Sequential drilling and exploding of a series of charges, especially in the area of the top of the cavity, is disclosed.