Application of gels for well water shutoff has become a part of oilfield practice, and this direction is constantly evolving due to several objective reasons. The main reason is the growing water cut of well production, and repair and isolation operations using hydrogels occupy a worthy place in this segment of technological processes for limiting water inflow. The second reason for oilfield workers’ interest in hydrogels for water shutoff is related to the possibility of smooth regulation of their properties: they are injected with low viscosity, then mature in the required isolation interval, and their viscosity and structural-mechanical properties increase multiple times. The penetration ability of gelants (immature gels) into porous media far exceeds traditional cement slurries and synthetic curing resins. An important reason for the interest of scientists and engineers in the oil industry in hydrogels is the possibility of complexing technology: after injection they are reinforced by cement slurry or curing resins, which synergistically increases the effect of water isolation. Also, gel-forming compositions can be easily transformed into foam-gel compositions by simple manipulations, which increases their isolation efficiency. In terms of rheological characteristics, hydrogels, depending on whether they are based on organic or inorganic materials, have viscoelastic or viscoplastic properties. Organic-inorganic hybrid plugging materials combine both of these important properties, allowing hydrogels of different natures and structures to be used for targeted blocking of the source of water inflow.This article emphasizes the primary importance of determining the source of well watering, depending on which the treatment design is already built, and the appropriate materials are selected.