Amine-Functionalized Dextrin Clay Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clay stabilizers, such as inorganic salts and high molecular weight polymers, are not entirely satisfactory for stabilizing water-sensitive clays in subterranean formations due to environmental concerns, high costs, and potential toxicity, and they can impact fluid flow and formation integrity during hydrocarbon recovery operations.

Innovation Solution

The use of amine-functionalized dextrin compounds, specifically maltodextrin derivatives with oxidatively opened and reductively aminated glucose units, which provide effective clay stabilization with lower environmental impact and cost, maintaining formation integrity and reducing clay swelling and fines migration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inorganic salts are used as clay stabilizers, then clay stability is improved, but environmental harm and disposal difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclay stabilityVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of clay stabilizers from inorganic salts to biodegradable polymers and surfactants. This parameter change maintains the clay stabilization function while eliminating environmental harm associated with salt disposal, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If high molecular weight polyacrylamide polymers are used as consolidating agents, then clay particle binding is improved, but fluid viscosity increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclay particle bindingVSAvoidfluid viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the molecular weight parameter of polymeric consolidating agents from high molecular weight to low molecular weight variants. This parameter change maintains adequate clay particle binding strength while significantly reducing fluid viscosity, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses low molecular weight polymers that provide temporary consolidation during the critical period of clay stabilization, then degrade harmlessly. This approach provides sufficient binding strength during operation without the long-term viscosity problems of high molecular weight polymers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If high salt concentrations are used in treatment fluids, then ion-exchange and dewatering of clay are improved, but gelation and fluid placement are adversely impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclay stabilityVSAvoidfluid placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical mechanism from salt-based ion-exchange to polymer-based stabilization and surfactant-based surface modification. This parameter change eliminates the adverse effects of high salt concentrations on gelation and fluid placement while maintaining clay stability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Amine-functionalized dextrin compounds effectively stabilize clays, reducing swelling and fines migration, while being environmentally benign and cost-effective, thus enhancing fluid flow and formation integrity during hydrocarbon recovery operations.

Implementation Method 1

Clay stabilizers are substances that may be used to limit the effect of aqueous fluids on water-sensitive clays... the amine-functionalized dextrin compound interacts with the clay-containing mineral to affect stabilization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11130905B2Aminated dextrin compounds and subterranean treatment methods using the same

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 INTEGRITY BIO CHEMICALS LLC

AI summary

Interactions between aqueous fluids and clay-containing subterranean formations may be problematic due to issues associated with clay destabilization and migration. Functionalized dextrin compounds that are partially oxidized and bear at least one amine group at an oxidation site may promote clay stabilization for more effective treatment of a subterranean formation. Subterranean treatment methods may comprise: providing a clay stabilizing composition comprising an amine-functionalized dextrin compound, the amine-functionalized dextrin compound comprising 2 to about 20 glucose units linked together with α(1,4) glycosidic bonds, and a portion of the glucose units being oxidatively opened and functionalized with at least one amine group at a site of oxidative opening; introducing the clay stabilizing composition into a subterranean formation bearing a clay-containing mineral; and interacting the amine-functionalized dextrin compound with the clay-containing mineral to affect stabilization thereof.