Charge-Developing Polymers for Enhanced Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods, such as polymer flooding, face limitations in maintaining viscosity in aqueous environments like seawater or brine, which affects oil recovery efficiency due to the stability and charge characteristics of polymers used.
Innovation Solution
Introducing polymers with labile monomer units that gradually increase in charge and viscosity over time in aqueous environments, such as those containing inorganic salts, by hydrolyzing these units, thereby enhancing the viscosity of the polymer solution and improving oil recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional polymers are used in polymer flooding, then initial viscosity is achieved, but viscosity decreases over time in aqueous environments like seawater or brine
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer charge is made dynamic rather than static. The polymer starts with low charge and gradually increases charge through hydrolysis of labile monomer units in the aqueous environment. This dynamic charge increase compensates for the natural viscosity decay, maintaining effective viscosity throughout the polymer flooding operation duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer's charge parameter changes over time through controlled hydrolysis. By incorporating labile monomer units that progressively hydrolyze in seawater or brine, the polymer's anionic charge increases from initial low levels to higher levels, thereby maintaining viscosity stability despite the challenging aqueous environment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If polymers with high initial charge are used, then initial viscosity is high, but the polymer structure becomes less stable in aqueous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is pre-designed with labile monomer units incorporated into its structure before injection. These labile units are positioned to hydrolyze progressively under reservoir conditions, ensuring that charge increases occur in a controlled manner rather than all at once, maintaining structural stability while improving viscosity consistency.
3Productivity
If polymer charge increases rapidly, then viscosity increases quickly, but the polymer may precipitate or gel prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The charge increase occurs periodically rather than instantaneously. As the polymer floods through the reservoir, labile monomer units hydrolyze at different rates and times, creating a progressive, staged increase in charge. This periodic charge development prevents sudden precipitation or gelling while still achieving the desired viscosity increase over the flooding period.
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 leads to increased oil recovery by maintaining higher viscosity levels over time, improving sweep efficiency and reducing injection pressure, resulting in enhanced oil production compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
wherein said one or more polymers when present for prolonged duration in the desired aqueous environment gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in said aqueous environment as a result of the labile monomer units in said one or more polymers being broken or hydrolyzed in the desired aqueous environment
Implementation Method 2
said one or more polymers when introduced into said desired aqueous environment comprise low charge or no charge... gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments generally relate to methods and compositions comprising one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition, such as when present in a desired aqueous environment. Use of such compositions and methods comprising one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition during enhanced oil recovery may result in an increase in oil production relative to methods and/or compositions which do not comprise one or more polymers which gradually increase in charge, thereby providing for an increase in viscosity in an aqueous solution or aqueous composition.