Crosslinking chitosan for reducing permeability in a well
A composition including: (a) an aqueous phase; (b) a chitosan-based compound dispersed or dissolved in the aqueous phase; and (c) a crosslinker dispersed or dissolved in the aqueous phase, wherein the crosslinker has at least two functional groups independently selected from the group consisting of aldehyde, carboxylic acid, and carboxylate. A method including the step of introducing a composition according to the invention into a treatment zone of a well.
1. A method of treating a treatment zone in a well, the method comprising:
introducing into the treatment zone a treatment fluid consisting of:
(a) an aqueous phase having a pH below about 6;
(b) a chitosan-based compound dispersed or dissolved in the aqueous phase; and
(c) a crosslinker dispersed or dissolved in the aqueous phase, wherein the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of: ethanedial, malondialdehyde, glutaraldehyde, citric acid, alkali metal citrate, and any combination thereof;
allowing the crosslinker to crosslink the chitosan-based compound to form a crosslinked-treatment fluid; and
allowing the crosslinked-treatment fluid to reduce the permeability of the treatment zone,
wherein the aqueous phase has a pH of below about 6 when the treatment fluid is introduced into the treatment zone.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous phase has a pH in the range of about 1 to about 4.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment zone includes a portion of a subterranean formation that is a gas reservoir having permeability greater than 0.1 milliDarcy.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment zone includes a portion of a subterranean formation that is an oil reservoir having permeability greater than 15 milliDarcy.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, after the step of introducing, the step of shutting in the treatment zone for at least one hour.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of flowing back from the treatment zone after the step of introducing.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of flowing back from the treatment zone after the step of introducing.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chitosan-based compound is chitosan.