THIXOTROPIC CHEMICAL PACKER SYSTEM FOR HORIZONTAL, DEVIATED AND GRAVEL PACKED WELLS
This technology utilizes a thixotropic, in-situ polymerized, gelation system. It is designed to prevent gravity slumping to form a chemical packer in horizontal and deviated wells. This system has relatively low viscosities at surface temperature but develops its thixotropic properties in a time frame of 20 to 30 minute as temperature increases while being pumped down hole. This thixotropic blend can be used in wells with bottomhole injection temperatures ranging from 100oF (38oC) to 180oF (82oC). The system utilizes synthetic clays which impart the thixotropic properties to maintain a temporary chemical seal until the second vinyl polymerization occurs to form the final packing seal. The vinyl polymerization system is a low viscosity monomer solution which uses temperature-activated initiators to induce a phase change from liquid to a ringing gel at predictable times.