Aqueous Alkali Aluminosilicate for Subterranean Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Alkali silicate-based technologies for blocking and strengthening permeable zones in subterranean environments face challenges such as sensitivity to contaminants, uncontrollable set times, and loss of mechanical strength due to temperature and reservoir condition changes, as well as issues like syneresis and the need for multivalent cations in fresh water zones.
Innovation Solution
The development of aqueous alkali aluminosilicate, which is a modified sodium silicate that exhibits higher tolerance to contaminants, more controllable set times, and increased mechanical strength, allowing it to crystallize into durable aluminosilicate crystals, thereby providing enhanced water resistance and reduced syneresis, without requiring separate catalysts or clear separation of water and hydrocarbon zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If soluble alkali silicates (sodium silicate) are used for blocking and strengthening permeable zones, then initial low viscosity and small molecular weight promote penetration, but the technology becomes sensitive to contaminants and loses mechanical strength due to temperature and reservoir condition changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of conventional sodium silicate by incorporating aluminum and adjusting the SiO2/Na2O ratio to less than 2.0 (preferably between 1.0 and 1.8). This parameter change creates an aluminosilicate system that maintains the low viscosity and small molecular weight needed for penetration while significantly improving tolerance to contaminants and stability of mechanical strength under varying temperature and reservoir conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite aluminosilicate system by combining sodium silicate with aluminum compounds. This composite material integrates the penetration advantages of sodium silicate with the stability and contaminant tolerance of aluminum-containing compounds, resulting in a formulation that achieves both easy operation and reliable mechanical strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If sodium silicate undergoes gelation or precipitation reactions to block permeable zones, then setting can be achieved, but set times become uncontrollable and syneresis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the chemical parameters including SiO2/Na2O ratio and aluminum content to control the reaction kinetics. By maintaining SiO2/Na2O between 1.0 and 1.8 and incorporating aluminum, the gelation and precipitation reactions proceed at controllable rates, allowing predictable set times without excessive syneresis, thus achieving both ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If multivalent cations are added to initiate precipitation in fresh water zones, then blocking reaction can be initiated, but device complexity increases and separate catalyst application is required
Solution Approach 1:
The aluminosilicate formulation is designed to be self-sufficient by incorporating aluminum and adjusting the SiO2/Na2O ratio to enable spontaneous gelation and precipitation reactions without requiring external multivalent cation catalysts. The system activates and sets on its own through controlled chemical reactions, eliminating the need for separate catalyst injection systems and reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliable reaction initiation.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional sodium silicate is used, then cost effectiveness is maintained, but tolerance to organic and inorganic contaminants is severe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition by incorporating aluminum and optimizing the SiO2/Na2O ratio to less than 2.0. This parameter change enhances the formulation's tolerance to both organic and inorganic contaminants while maintaining cost effectiveness through the use of readily available aluminum compounds and standard silicate production methods.
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
Aqueous alkali aluminosilicate offers improved mechanical strength, water resistance, and controllable set times, with reduced syneresis and tolerance to organic and inorganic contaminants, enabling effective sealing and stabilization of permeable zones in subterranean environments.
Implementation Method 1
the aqueous alkali aluminosilicate material can be made to crystallize to yield a hard, durable aluminosilicate crystal
Implementation Method 2
Sodium silicate is typically formulated to undergo a gelation reaction or a precipitation reaction
Implementation Method 3
Precipitation systems are formulated to take advantage of sodium silicate reacting with metal cations (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Al3+, Fe3+)
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for making and compositions including aqueous alkali aluminosilicates used for conformance. The aqueous alkali aluminosilicates provide similar reaction characteristics of alkali silicates, and in addition provide enhanced conformance properties due to their ability to crystallize.