HYDROTHERMAL TREATMENT OF SUBSURFACE EARTH FORMATIONS

摘要

A consolidated, permeable mass of siliceous material is formed within a permeable, subsurface earth formation or in the well bore penetrating such formation, in order to control loose or unconsolidated sand present in such formation, by injecting and displacing into the formation an aqueous solution substantially saturated with an alkaline earth metal hydroxide or compounds which form the same in situ, by reacting with each other or with a material present in the formation, and maintaining the solution in the formation for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form such consolidated, permeable mass from siliceous materials present in the formation, or a siliceous material is added to the solution and the solution is disposed in the well bore, in cavities or openings in the formation or in fractures in the formation for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form such consolidated, permeable mass.