Boronated Biopolymer Crosslinking Agents for Shear-Stable Viscosified Fluids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Boron-containing crosslinking agents in viscosified treatment fluids are prone to shear thinning, leading to reduced viscosity, particulate settling, and hydraulic pressure issues, necessitating excessive use that increases costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Employing boronated biopolymer crosslinking agents derived from biopolymers with boronic acid or boronate esters, which provide enhanced stability under shear and allow for easier breakdown, reducing the need for excessive base polymer and minimizing environmental footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If boron-containing crosslinking agents are used to crosslink treatment fluids, then the treatment fluid achieves viscosification, but the fluid becomes susceptible to shear thinning causing viscosity reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the crosslinking agent by using boronated biopolymers with specific molecular weights and boron content ranges (0.05-5% by weight), optimizing the balance between crosslinking strength and shear stability. The derivatization of biopolymers with boronic acid or boronate esters creates specific chemical structures that resist shear thinning while maintaining viscosification.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite crosslinking agents combining biopolymer backbones with boronic acid/boronate ester functional groups. This composite structure leverages the structural integrity of biopolymers and the crosslinking capability of boron compounds to achieve both strong viscosification and shear stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If excessive boron crosslinking agent is added to overcome shear thinning, then viscosity stability improves, but environmental footprint and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the boron content parameter within specific ranges (0.05-5% by weight of treatment fluid) and using biopolymer molecular weights of 10,000-5,000,000 g/mol, the invention achieves effective crosslinking at lower dosages while maintaining viscosity stability, reducing both quantity and environmental impact.
3Strength
If zirconium or titanium crosslinking agents are used to achieve strong crosslinking, then crosslinking strength improves, but cost increases and fluid breakdown becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses boronated biopolymer crosslinking agents that are designed to be effective but readily degradable. The biopolymer-based crosslinking agents provide sufficient crosslinking strength during the treatment operation but can be easily broken down afterward for fluid removal, unlike persistent zirconium or titanium agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter to use boron-based crosslinking agents with specific molecular weight and boron content parameters, achieving an optimal balance between crosslinking strength and degradability that eliminates the drawbacks of zirconium and titanium agents.
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 boronated biopolymer crosslinking agents maintain viscosity stability under shear and can be efficiently broken, achieving effective viscosification with reduced base polymer usage, thus enhancing the performance and cost-effectiveness of viscosified treatment fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a base polymer compound that is crosslinked with a crosslinking agent
Implementation Method 2
viscosified fluids using boron-containing crosslinking agents are more susceptible to shear thinning wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid reduces when the fluid is placed under shear
Data Source
AI summary
Boronated biopolymer crosslinking agents useful in producing viscosified treatment fluids that include an aqueous fluid, a base polymer, and the boronated biopolymer crosslinking agent, wherein the boronated biopolymer crosslinking agent comprises a biopolymer derivatized with a boronic acid, a boronate ester, or both. Such viscosified treatment fluids may be useful in fracturing operations, gravel packing operations, drilling operations, and the like.