Methods and systems for water shut-off
A system and method for a treatment of a subterranean formation. The treatment may include pumping a water shut-off material into a wellbore and to a target zone in the subterranean formation. The treatment may also include pumping a silicate to the target zone behind the water shut-off material, thereby forming a layer of silicate between the water shut-off material and the wellbore. An energy source may be directed to the layer of silicate until the layer of silicate solidifies to yield a solid barrier between the water shut-off material and the wellbore.
1. A process for a treatment of a subterranean formation, comprising:
pumping a water shut-off material into a wellbore and to a target zone in the subterranean formation;
pumping a silicate to the target zone behind the water shut-off material, thereby forming a layer of silicate between the water shut-off material and the wellbore; and,
directing an energy source to the layer of silicate until the layer of silicate solidifies to yield a solid barrier between the water shut-off material and the wellbore, thereby preventing flowback of the water shut-off material from the target zone.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the water shut-off material is a polymer gel.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the silicate is present in an aqueous solution.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the silicate is sodium silicate.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a laser.
6. The process of claim 5 , further comprising lowering the laser into the wellbore to the target zone.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the silicate is present at a concentration of up to 40%.
8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the silicate concentration is between 30 wt % and 40 wt %.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the silicate pH is between 11 and 12.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the energy source increases the heat of the silicate to a temperature between 150° C. to 400° C.
11. A system for a treatment of a subterranean formation, comprising:
a wellbore extending through the subterranean formation;
a water shut-off material, configured to block a fluid from entering a wellbore;
a sealant material between the water shut-off material and the wellbore, wherein the sealant material is a silicate; and
an energy source configured to direct energy to the sealant material and increase the temperature of the sealant to form a solid barrier between the water shut-off material and the wellbore.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a water shut-off material pump configured to pump the water shut-off material into the wellbore to a target zone.
13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a sealant pump configured to pump the silicate into the wellbore to a target zone.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the energy source is a laser.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a laser generation unit configured to control the generation of the laser in the wellbore.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the silicate is sodium silicate.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the energy source is configured to increase the temperature of the sealant to 150° C. to 400° C.