Amine Coating Composition for Reservoir Surface Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for enhancing oil production, such as polymer and surfactant injections, are inadequate in effectively reducing capillary pressure and residual oil saturation in oil-producing formations, necessitating new compositions and methods to improve oil flow and recovery.

Innovation Solution

A coating composition comprising an amine component and an aminephosphate ester component, optionally with a solvent, is applied to modify the surface properties of particles and formations, altering their aggregation propensity and zeta potential to decrease residual oil saturation and increase oil flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If polymer or surfactant injection is used to enhance oil production, then oil production is improved, but capillary pressure and residual oil saturation are not effectively reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil productionVSAvoidcapillary pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface chemistry of formation particles through coating with amine-containing compounds. This changes the zeta potential and aggregation propensity parameters of particles, which directly reduces capillary pressure and residual oil saturation while maintaining improved oil production. The coating alters surface properties to enable more effective oil displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If coating composition is applied to modify surface properties, then residual oil saturation is decreased, but the complexity of the treatment process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual oil saturationVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating composition exhibits self-service properties through spontaneous adsorption onto formation particles. The amine-containing compounds automatically bind to particle surfaces without requiring external intervention or complex application equipment. The coating forms through self-assembly processes, reducing operational complexity while achieving effective surface modification and residual oil saturation reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If amine component and aminephosphate ester component are used in coating, then aggregation and adherence properties are increased, but the cost of chemicals increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaggregation and adherence propertiesVSAvoidchemical cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material principles by combining amine components with aminephosphate ester components in the coating composition. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the combination of chemicals produces enhanced aggregation and adherence properties that would not be achieved by single components. The composite coating system provides superior particle binding and surface modification at effective concentrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition effectively reduces capillary pressure and residual oil saturation, enhancing oil production by increasing the aggregation and adherence properties of particles, leading to improved oil flow and recovery in oil-producing formations.

Implementation Method 1

modifying surface properties or the surfaces and particles in a producing formation to decrease residual oil saturation... altering their aggregation propensity and zeta potential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectZeta potential modification: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

decreasing capillary pressure and residual oil saturation... lower the capillary pressure that impedes oil droplets from moving through the formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary pressure reduction: Capillary Pressure

Implementation Method 3

increasing the aggregation and adherence properties of particles... increase particle aggregation and adherence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAggregation: Coagulation

Data Source

PatentUS10040991B2Zeta potential modifiers to decrease the residual oil saturation

Publication Date: 2018.08.07 THE LUBRIZOL CORP

AI summary

Compositions comprise an amine component, an amine/phosphate component and may also include a solvent component. The compositions are adapted to coat solid materials, substrates and/or surfaces of producing reservoirs and formations and methods for making and using same, where the coating agents modify surface properties of the solid materials, substrates and/or surfaces of producing formations decreasing residual oil saturation.