Full-Scale Well Model Tests of a New Chemical Plug System for Zone Isolation in Horizontal Wells

A new method for zone isolation in horizontal wells with chemical packers has been developed and tested with a 60-ft-long, full-scale horizontal-well apparatus. The method involves setting two chemical wellbore plugs in the horizontal section to straddle the problem zone, squeezing gel into the problem zone, and cleaning out the borehole before production. A crosslinked hydroxyethyl cellulose was used as the wellbore plug, while a monomer gel was used to shut off the problem zone. Tests confirmed the viability of the new zone-isolation method.