Amine-Functionalized Dextrin Clay Stabilizer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current clay stabilizers, such as inorganic salts and polymeric consolidating agents, are not entirely satisfactory for stabilizing water-sensitive clays in subterranean formations due to environmental concerns, high costs, and potential toxicity, and do not effectively address clay swelling and fines migration issues during hydrocarbon resource recovery.

Innovation Solution

The use of amine-functionalized dextrin compounds and amine-functionalized dextran polymers, which are synergistically combined to provide effective clay stabilization, are introduced. These compounds are produced through oxidative opening and reductive amination of dextrin and dextran parent compounds, offering superior clay stabilization properties with lower molecular weights and environmental benefits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inorganic salts are used as clay stabilizers, then clay swelling and fines migration are reduced, but environmental toxicity and disposal problems increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclay stabilization effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

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 polysaccharide polymers with specific molecular weights and functional groups, maintaining stabilization effectiveness while eliminating environmental toxicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses biodegradable polysaccharide polymers that break down into harmless substances after performing their stabilization function, replacing persistent inorganic salts that cause long-term environmental contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If high molecular weight polyacrylamide polymers are used as consolidating agents, then clay particles are bound together, but fluid viscosity increases excessively and other functional components are impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclay particle binding effectivenessVSAvoidfluid viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the molecular weight parameter of polysaccharide polymers to optimize the balance between clay stabilization effectiveness and fluid viscosity, using lower molecular weight polymers that provide sufficient binding without excessive thickening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite polysaccharide polymer systems combining different types (e.g., dextran, guar gum, carboxymethyl cellulose) to achieve synergistic effects that improve clay binding while controlling fluid viscosity better than single polymer systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If functionalized polysaccharide polymers are used for clay stabilization, then environmental toxicity is minimized, but cost and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental toxicityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the polysaccharide polymer structure into specific functional components (hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, amine groups) that can be independently controlled during synthesis to achieve desired stabilization performance with standardized manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 amine-functionalized dextrin and dextran compositions effectively stabilize clays, reducing swelling and fines migration, maintaining formation integrity, and promoting fluid interaction during subterranean treatment operations, while being environmentally benign and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

clay stabilizer fluids contain inorganic salts, such as potassium chloride, which may interact with a clay surface and promote ion-exchange and dewatering of the clay structure therewith

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 2

Clay stabilizers are substances that may be used to limit the effect of aqueous fluids on water-sensitive clays

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11028314B2Compositions comprising aminated dextrin compounds and subterranean treatment methods using the same

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 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. Subterranean treatment methods may comprise: providing a clay stabilizing composition comprising an amine-functionalized dextrin compound having 2 to about 20 glucose units linked together with α(1,4) glycosidic bonds, and an amine-functionalized dextran polymer having a plurality of glucose units linked together with α(1,6) glycosidic bonds; introducing the clay stabilizing composition into a subterranean formation bearing a clay-containing mineral; and interacting the amine-functionalized dextrin compound and the amine-functionalized dextran polymer with the clay-containing mineral to affect stabilization thereof. A portion of the glucose units are oxidatively opened and functionalized with at least one amine group at a site of oxidative opening in both the amine-functionalized dextrin compound and the amine-functionalized dextran polymer. The amine-functionalized dextrin compound and the amine-functionalized dextran polymer operate synergistically with one another.