Chitosan Titanate Gel for Subterranean Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods in the oil and gas industry for treating subterranean formations primarily use chitosan as an additive or crosslinker, rather than as the primary ingredient, and there is a need for compositions and methods that utilize chitosan as the primary ingredient in treatment fluids for wellbores.
Innovation Solution
A fluid comprising chitosan crosslinked by titanate is used for treating subterranean formations, with the fluid having increased viscosity compared to chitosan without titanate, and a method involving mixing chitosan and titanate in a carrying medium to form a gel for treating the formations, optionally including a breaker to break the gel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chitosan is used as the primary ingredient in treatment fluid, then the effectiveness of subterranean formation treatment is improved, but the viscosity and flow properties may be insufficient without crosslinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines chitosan with titanate crosslinkers to create a composite gel system. This composite structure allows chitosan to serve as the primary ingredient while titanate provides the necessary crosslinking to achieve stable viscosity and improved treatment effectiveness in subterranean formation applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the degree of chitosan deacetylation and controlling the crosslinking conditions with titanate. These parameter adjustments optimize the balance between viscosity, stability, and treatment effectiveness, allowing chitosan to function effectively as the primary ingredient.
2Stability of the object's composition
If crosslinkers are used to increase chitosan viscosity, then the fluid stability is improved, but health issues and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs titanate crosslinkers that form reversible, controllable gel structures. These crosslinked structures can be broken down and regenerated, allowing for controlled fluid stability without permanent chemical modifications that cause health issues. The system uses readily degradable titanate-chitosan complexes rather than persistent harmful crosslinkers.
3Reliability
If gel stability is increased for proppant suspension, then the proppant delivery effectiveness is improved, but the ability to control gel breakdown and restore flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic gel system where the titanate-chitosan crosslinked structure can reversibly transition between gel and sol states. This dynamic behavior allows the gel to maintain stability for effective proppant suspension during delivery, then break down controllably to restore flow, providing both reliability and adaptability in the same system.
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 chitosan-titanate fluid provides enhanced viscosity and stability, allowing for effective suspension and delivery of proppants during hydraulic fracturing and other oil and gas operations, with the ability to control gel stability through the use of breakers.
Implementation Method 1
chitosan crosslinked by titanate
Implementation Method 2
forming a gel comprising chitosan and titanate
Implementation Method 3
suspend a proppant for delivering a proppant to the subterranean formation
Implementation Method 4
introducing a breaker to the fluid to break the gel
Data Source
AI summary
The current application discloses fluids and methods for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. In one aspect, there is provided a fluid comprising chitosan and titanate, where the fluid has an increased viscosity compared with a solution containing chitosan without titanate. In another aspect, there is provided a method of using such fluid to treat a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The method may comprise mixing chitosan and titanate in a carrying medium, forming a gel comprising chitosan and titanate, introducing the gel into a subterranean formation, and treating the subterranean formation with the gel.