| abstract |
A method of preventing gas breakthrough in an oil well, which includes first pumping a slug of an alkaline earth salt into the well bore, followed by a slug of spacer solution, and finally a slug of a fatty acid resin. The resin can comprise at least one fatty acid, a fat (or tall oil), and other components. The resin and alkaline earth salt advantageously react in situ to form a water and gas insoluble precipitate or gum that forms a sealing zone around the oil/gas interface of the well bore, and also allows the oil to dissolve the precipitate to facilitate recovery of the oil. |