Cement Slurries with Block Copolymer Self-Healing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Cement slurries used in the oil and gas industry lack elasticity and self-healing capabilities, making them vulnerable to cracking and failure under cyclic stresses, which compromises wellbore integrity and safety.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a block copolymer composition with at least one copolymer backbone having two hard segments and a soft segment with an anhydride group, crosslinked by an aminosilane, into cement slurries to enhance elasticity and self-healing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional aqueous latex fluids are used to add elastomer to cement slurry, then some elasticity is improved, but the amount of elastomer is insufficient and self-healing capabilities are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the elastomer from aqueous latex fluid to supercritical CO2, and modifies the elastomer concentration from limited amounts in conventional fluids to high concentrations (5-50 wt%) in the supercritical state, thereby achieving sufficient elastomer content for self-healing capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cement slurry system combining cement, supercritical CO2, and elastomer, where the supercritical CO2 acts as a carrier medium that enables high elastomer concentration while maintaining slurry workability and achieving both elasticity and self-healing properties
2Quantity of substance
If too much aqueous fluid is added to increase elastomer content, then elastomer quantity is improved, but the cement's ability to set is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the state of the fluid from aqueous to supercritical CO2, which has different solvation and interaction properties with cement, allowing high elastomer concentration (5-50 wt%) without interfering with the cement setting process
Solution Approach 2:
The supercritical CO2 acts as an intermediary carrier medium that delivers high concentrations of elastomer to the cement slurry without directly interfering with the cement hydration and setting mechanisms, thus maintaining both elastomer quantity and setting ability
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cement slurry is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but resistance to cyclic stresses and prevention of cracking is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite cement slurry containing cement, supercritical CO2, and elastomer (5-50 wt%), where the elastomer phase provides crack-bridging and self-healing mechanisms that significantly improve resistance to cyclic stresses while maintaining practical manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer distributes locally within the cement matrix to provide targeted crack-bridging and self-healing properties at stress concentration points, enhancing cyclic stress resistance without requiring complete restructuring of the manufacturing process
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 modified cement slurries exhibit improved resistance to cyclic stresses, maintaining wellbore integrity and enabling self-healing, thereby preventing cracking and ensuring long-term well stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the copolymer backbone is crosslinked by an aminosilane crosslinker
Data Source
AI summary
Cement slurries, cured cements, and methods of making cured cement and methods of using cement slurries are provided. The cement slurries have, among other attributes, improved elasticity and self-healing properties and may be used, for instance, in the oil and gas drilling industry. The cement slurry comprises water, a cement precursor material, and a block copolymer composition. The block copolymer composition has at least one copolymer backbone, with each copolymer backbone comprising at least two hard segments. Furthermore, a soft segment is disposed between the at least two hard segments. The copolymer backbone has at least one anhydride group grafted onto the soft segment, and the anhydride group is crosslinked by an aminosilane crosslinker.