Evaluation of Aluminum-Crosslinked Gel Compositions for Controlling Water Cut and Improving Flow Conformance in Oil-Bearing Formations

High water cut in produced fluids is a common challenge across most hydrocarbon reservoirs. In this regard, conformance control technologies based on gel-forming compositions are considered one of the most effective methods of enhancing oil recovery. This study investigated a gel-forming composition based on an acrylamide polymer and an aluminum-containing crosslinker. Despite the extensive range of developed crosslinked polymer systems, achieving precise control over the gelation rate without introducing auxiliary retarders remains a significant challenge, particularly when inorganic crosslinkers such as aluminum-based compounds are employed. The aim of the research was to determine the optimal crosslinker-to-polymer ratio required to obtain a gel-forming system with high mechanical strength and adjustable gelation time that meets the technological requirements for reservoir injection. Experimental studies were carried out to determine the gelation time, solution pH, and mechanical strength of the resulting gel. The gelation time reached up to 197 minutes at a polymer concentration of 2 wt.% under standard temperature conditions (20 °C). The measured storage modulus of the gel reached 1350 Pa at a pH value of 4.66. The efficiency of the investigated aluminum-containing crosslinker is compared with existing analogues currently used in the oil and gas industry for water shutoff and conformance control applications.