Methods and compositions for performing a sealing operation in a wellbore. An example method introduces a sealant composition into the wellbore while the sealant composition is under shear. The sealant composition comprises a thixotropic material, a conformance gel system, and an aqueous base fluid. The sealant composition is placed into a target location, and applied shear is reduced to the sealant composition when in the target location thereby allowing the sealant composition to thicken in the target location. Fluid flow across the target location is reduced by a fluid seal formed by the thickened sealant composition.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a drilling fluid may include a base fluid, one or more formaldehyde-based resins, and one or more water-soluble acid catalysts. The base fluid may include an aqueous or non-aqueous solution. The one or more water-soluble acid catalysts may be present in an amount sufficient to reduce the pH of the drilling fluid to less than or equal to 6. The present disclosure also describes sealed subterranean petroleum formations that include such drilling fluids and methods for sealing subterranean wellbores by utilizing such drilling fluids.

A thixotropic composition having a cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent, initiator and a thixotropic agent. The thixotropic agent may be a clay or a saccharide polymer. The thixotropic composition may be introduced into a drill string via a batch or on-the-fly process to prevent loss of drilling fluid into the surrounding formation.

A thixotropic composition having a cross-linkable polymer, cross-linking agent, initiator and a thixotropic agent. The thixotropic agent may be a clay or a saccharide polymer. The thixotropic composition may be introduced into a drill string via a batch or on-the-fly process to prevent loss of drilling fluid into the surrounding formation.

A treatment fluid can include: a base fluid, wherein the base fluid comprises water; and a lost-circulation material, wherein the lost-circulation material comprises a polymer network having at least one branching point formed with a monomer and a cross-linking agent that comprises at least three active functional groups. The treatment fluid can maintain a pressure differential of at least 1 psi when tested with a cylindrical void that has a diameter of 0.02 inches. The monomer can be a vinyl ester-based monomer that is polymerized with the cross-linking agent to form the polymer network. The treatment fluid can be used in an oil and gas operation.

A treatment fluid can include: a base fluid, wherein the base fluid comprises water; and a lost-circulation material, wherein the lost-circulation material comprises a polymer network having at least one branching point formed with a monomer and a cross-linking agent that comprises at least three active functional groups. The treatment fluid can maintain a pressure differential of at least 1 psi when tested with a cylindrical void that has a diameter of 0.02 inches. The monomer can be a vinyl ester-based monomer that is polymerized with the cross-linking agent to form the polymer network. The treatment fluid can be used in an oil and gas operation.

Branched and crosslinked polymeric fluid loss control agents and methods are provided that have at least one acrylamide-based monomer, at least one sulfonated anionic monomer, and at least one crosslinking monomer. The at least one acrylamide-based monomer and the at least one sulfonated anionic monomer are crosslinked. The branched and crosslinked polymeric fluid loss control agents have between 50 and 99 mol % of the at least one acrylamide-based monomer, between 1 and 30 mol % of the at least one sulfonated anionic monomer, and between 0.1 and 10 mol % of the at least one crosslinking monomer.

Branched and crosslinked polymeric fluid loss control agents and methods are provided that have at least one acrylamide-based monomer, at least one sulfonated anionic monomer, and at least one crosslinking monomer. The at least one acrylamide-based monomer and the at least one sulfonated anionic monomer are crosslinked. The branched and crosslinked polymeric fluid loss control agents have between 50 and 99 mol % of the at least one acrylamide-based monomer, between 1 and 30 mol % of the at least one sulfonated anionic monomer, and between 0.1 and 10 mol % of the at least one crosslinking monomer.

The present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting water permeation in an extraction well of a hydrocarbon oil from an underground reservoir which comprises injecting into said reservoir at least one polymerizable composition comprising: at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophilic initiator of radical polymerization with thermal activation (hydrophilic initiator), at least one lipophilic initiator of radical polymerization with thermal activation (lipophilic initiator). The present invention also relates to the polymerizable compositions that can be used in said method.

The present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting water permeation in an extraction well of a hydrocarbon oil from an underground reservoir which comprises injecting into said reservoir at least one polymerizable composition comprising: at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophilic initiator of radical polymerization with thermal activation (hydrophilic initiator), at least one lipophilic initiator of radical polymerization with thermal activation (lipophilic initiator). The present invention also relates to the polymerizable compositions that can be used in said method.