Binder Consolidating Formations Retaining Porosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing binders used for consolidating geological formations often result in a loss of permeability when solidified, making it difficult for oil and natural gas production, and flushing with nitrogen is expensive and ineffective in preventing binder flowback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating hydrophilic silanes into the binder system, which forms a sticky, viscous phase that adheres to the formation surface, allowing for brine flushing to remove excess binder while maintaining porosity and achieving sufficient strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If nitrogen flushing is used to remove excess binder, then porosity is maintained, but cost increases significantly and flowback prevention is unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder by incorporating hydrophilic silanes (such as glycidyloxypropyltrialkoxysilanes and aminopropyltrialkoxysilanes) into the binder system. This modification allows the binder to be flushed with brine (aqueous solution) instead of nitrogen gas, significantly reducing costs while maintaining porosity and preventing flowback through the hydrophilic interactions of the silane components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive nitrogen flushing medium with a cheap brine solution for flushing operations. The brine can be easily disposed of or reused without significant cost, making the overall consolidation process economically viable while achieving the same porosity maintenance objective
2Strength
If binder is infiltrated into formation, then strength increases, but permeability is reduced when solidified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by infiltrating the binder into the formation and then flushing out a portion of the excess binder with brine before the binder fully solidifies. This controlled removal of excess binder maintains adequate porosity and permeability for oil and gas flow while leaving sufficient binder in place to achieve the required compressive strength of 5-10 MPa
Solution Approach 2:
The binder system with hydrophilic silanes creates local quality differences in the formation treatment: the binder adheres strongly to the formation surface and grain contacts where strength is needed, while allowing controlled flushing in the pore spaces to maintain permeability pathways for hydrocarbon flow
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
Enables the use of brine flushing to retain porosity and achieve high compressive strengths of 5-10 MPa, facilitating oil and gas production while reducing costs and flowback issues.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating hydrophilic silanes into the binder system, which forms a sticky, viscous phase that adheres to the formation surface
Implementation Method 2
This modification of the binder makes it possible to form a new phase in the binder that is immiscible or difficult to mix with the organic phase
Implementation Method 3
a reactive, soluble system is infiltrated into a bed or loose formation and solidified via a reaction. Various materials are used for this, e.g. organic monomers, hydrolyzable and condensed alkoxides activated via sol-gel reactions
Implementation Method 4
hydrolyzable and condensed alkoxides activated via sol-gel reactions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a binder for consolidating a geological formation, comprising a mixture of A) a heterocondensate that can be obtained by hydrolysis and condensation of at least one hydrolyzable silicon compound and at least a metal, phosphorus or boron compound, wherein the metal is selected from Al, Ge, Sn, Pb, Ti, Mg, Li, V, Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf, B) at least one organic polymerizable or polycondensable monomer or oligomer, and C) at least one hydrolyzable silicon compound which comprises a non-hydrolyzable radical with at least one hydrophilic group. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for consolidating a geological formation using said binder.