Associative Polymer Extraction Fluid Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrocarbon extraction methods using high-viscosity polymer fluids for enhanced recovery face challenges with high energy requirements and polymer degradation under shear, limiting their injectability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Development of an extraction fluid comprising associative polymers and labile surfactants, where the surfactant reduces viscosity during injection and degrades post-injection, allowing for lower injection pressures and reduced polymer degradation, while maintaining high viscosity within the reservoir for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-viscosity polymer fluids are used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, then extraction efficiency is improved, but injection energy requirement increases and polymer degradation under shear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding a viscosity-reducing agent to the polymer solution before injection. This agent temporarily reduces the viscosity during the injection phase, making injection easier and requiring less energy. After injection, the viscosity-reducing agent is removed or degraded, allowing the polymer to regain its high viscosity for effective hydrocarbon recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically altering the viscosity parameter of the polymer solution. The viscosity is reduced during injection (low viscosity state) and then restored to high viscosity after injection. This temporal variation in viscosity parameter resolves the contradiction between ease of injection and extraction efficiency.
2Productivity
If high-viscosity polymer fluids are used for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, then extraction efficiency is improved, but polymer degradation under shear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The viscosity-reducing agent is introduced before injection to protect the polymer from shear degradation during the injection process. By reducing viscosity in advance, the polymer chains experience less shear stress and entanglement during injection, minimizing degradation. After injection, the agent is removed and viscosity is restored for effective recovery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscosity-reducing agent acts as an intermediary substance that temporarily modifies the polymer solution properties. This intermediary protects the polymer from shear degradation during injection by reducing viscosity, then is removed to restore the polymer's original properties for effective hydrocarbon recovery.
3Productivity
If polymer concentration is increased to achieve gelation and permeability modification, then relative permeability modification is improved, but injection pressure requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by temporarily reducing the viscosity parameter during injection using a viscosity-reducing agent. This allows higher polymer concentrations to be injected at lower pressures. After injection, the viscosity is restored, enabling the high polymer concentration to effectively gel and modify relative permeability in the reservoir.
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 solution facilitates easier injection with reduced energy expenditure and minimizes polymer degradation, achieving efficient hydrocarbon extraction by modulating viscosity to enhance permeability modification and hydrocarbon movement within the reservoir.
Implementation Method 1
at least one labile surfactant present in a quantity sufficient to reduce or inhibit the increase in viscosity induced by said associative polymers during injection and which degrades after injection under the conditions of temperature and pH of the hydrocarbon reservoir into which it is introduced
Implementation Method 2
a labile surfactant carrying a cleavable function which is an ester function... which degrades after the injection under the temperature and pH conditions of the hydrocarbon reservoir
Implementation Method 3
associative polymers which are intrinsically capable of increasing the viscosity of the aqueous medium... an associative polymer comprising a skeleton of a hydrophilic nature and 0.001% to 10% by mole of functions of a hydrophobic nature
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an extraction fluid, in particular intended for water flooding or relative permeability modifying (RPM) operations, comprising, in an aqueous medium: - an associative polymer; and - a labile surfactant in sufficient amount to reduce or inhibit the viscosity-increasing effect induced by said associative polymer.