Multifunctional Boronic Crosslinkers for Subterranean Fluid Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viscosified treatment fluids in subterranean operations face challenges such as limited viscosity achievement below a critical concentration of gelling agents, thermal instability at high temperatures, and pH-related issues like calcium and magnesium ion precipitation, which affect their effectiveness and ease of removal.
Innovation Solution
The use of multifunctional boronic crosslinkers with two or more boronic functional groups in aqueous fluids, which can crosslink gelling agents at lower concentrations, maintain viscoelastic properties across a range of pH levels, and exhibit thermal stability up to 200°F, allowing for improved viscosity and application flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional metal crosslinkers are used to increase viscosity, then the fluid can be crosslinked, but the fluid loses viscosity at high temperatures exceeding 200°F
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the crosslinking system by using boronic acid functional groups instead of conventional metal crosslinkers. This parameter change enables the crosslinked gel to maintain viscosity stability at high temperatures exceeding 200°F, resolving the thermal instability problem of conventional systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite crosslinking system combining boronic acid functional groups with gelling agents. This composite approach produces a crosslinked structure that exhibits both enhanced thermal stability and viscosity retention at high temperatures, overcoming the limitations of single-component conventional crosslinkers
2Stability of the object's composition
If the concentration of gelling agent and crosslinker is increased to offset viscosity loss, then viscosity stability is improved, but cost increases and fluid removal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters by using boronic acid crosslinkers at lower concentrations compared to conventional systems. This parameter optimization achieves the desired viscosity stability without requiring excessive amounts of gelling agent or crosslinker, thereby reducing cost and improving fluid removal characteristics
3Productivity
If crosslinking is performed at high pH (11 and above), then crosslinking efficiency is improved, but calcium and magnesium ions precipitate causing formation damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the crosslinking environment, enabling effective crosslinking to occur at or near neutral pH values. This parameter change prevents calcium and magnesium ion precipitation while maintaining adequate crosslinking efficiency, thereby avoiding formation damage
4Ease of operation
If conventional crosslinkers are used below critical concentration of gelling agent, then fluid can be treated, but viscoelastic gel cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the crosslinking agent to boronic acid functional groups, which enable effective crosslinking and viscoelastic gel formation even when the gelling agent concentration is below the critical threshold. This parameter change allows fluid treatment to proceed while achieving the desired gel structure
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 multifunctional boronic crosslinkers enable the formation of viscosified treatment fluids with enhanced gelling characteristics, improved thermal stability, and pH tolerance, enabling effective subterranean operations while reducing the need for high gelling agent and crosslinker concentrations, thus lowering costs and simplifying fluid removal.
Implementation Method 1
The crosslinking between gelling agent molecules occurs through the action of a crosslinker. These crosslinkers may comprise a metal ion, transition metal, or metalloid, collectively referred to herein as 'metal(s).'
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating a subterranean formation comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous fluid; a gelling agent, and a multifunctional boronic crosslinker comprising two or more boronic functional groups; and introducing the viscosified fluid into a subterranean formation.