Multifunctional Boronic Acid Crosslinking Agents for Subterranean Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viscosified treatment fluids in subterranean operations face issues with viscosity loss at high temperatures and require high concentrations of gelling and crosslinking agents, which are costly and difficult to remove, while boronic acid copolymers synthesized by conventional methods result in inefficient use of monomer units due to gradient copolymer formation.
Innovation Solution
The use of multifunctional boronic acid crosslinking agents in treatment fluids, comprising copolymers with boronic acid and water-soluble monomer units, that do not form gradient copolymers, allowing for lower concentrations of crosslinking agents and gelling agents to achieve comparable crosslinking effects, and are thermally stable at high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional metal crosslinking agents are used to increase fluid viscosity, then the fluid can achieve desired viscosity, but the fluid loses viscosity at high temperatures and requires high concentrations of crosslinking agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the crosslinking agent from conventional metal-based agents to boronic acid-based agents. This parameter change enables the crosslinking system to maintain thermal stability at high temperatures (above 300°F) while achieving effective crosslinking at lower concentrations, directly resolving the contradiction between thermal stability and crosslinking agent concentration requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs boronic acid-containing polymers as composite crosslinking agents that combine the crosslinking functionality with thermal stability properties. These composite materials provide both the necessary crosslinking action and resistance to thermal degradation, eliminating the need for high concentrations required by conventional metal crosslinkers
2Temperature
If high concentrations of gelling agent and crosslinking agent are used to maintain viscosity at high temperatures, then thermal stability is improved, but the treatment fluid becomes more difficult and costly to remove from subterranean formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition of the crosslinking system to boronic acid-based agents, which enable effective crosslinking at lower concentrations. This parameter change directly addresses the contradiction by reducing the concentration of crosslinking agent needed, thereby improving ease of removal while maintaining thermal stability
3Reliability
If boronic acid copolymers are synthesized by conventional techniques, then crosslinking capability is achieved, but gradient copolymer formation results in inefficient use of boronic acid monomer units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by protecting the boronic acid monomer units during the polymerization process. The protecting group prevents premature or unwanted reactions, ensuring that the boronic acid units are uniformly distributed throughout the copolymer chain. This preliminary protection step enables efficient utilization of all monomer units for crosslinking, eliminating the gradient copolymer formation problem while maintaining crosslinking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polymerization conditions and methodology to produce uniform copolymers rather than gradient copolymers. By modifying synthesis parameters and using protecting group chemistry, the patent ensures uniform distribution of boronic acid units throughout the polymer chain, maximizing the efficiency of monomer unit utilization for crosslinking
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
This approach enables the formation of viscosified treatment fluids with improved gelling characteristics at lower concentrations, reduced environmental impact, and lower material costs, while maintaining thermal stability and facilitating easier cleanup and regained conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
the metal of a crosslinking agent can interact with at least two gelling agent molecules to form a crosslink between them, thereby forming a crosslinked gelling agent
Implementation Method 2
form a viscoelastic gel below a critical concentration of gelling agent
Data Source
AI summary
Treatment of a subterranean formation can be conducted with viscosified treatment fluids that comprise a multifunctional boronic acid crosslinking agent. Methods for treating a subterranean formation can comprise providing a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a gelling agent, and a multifunctional boronic acid crosslinking agent that comprises a copolymer comprising at least one boronic acid monomer unit and at least one water-soluble monomer unit; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.