Chloride Salt-PEG Polymer Suspensions That Resist Settling and Hydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier fluids for water soluble polymers in the oil industry, such as mineral oil, fail to prevent excessive settling and hydration of polymers, leading to inefficiencies in fracking operations.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous suspensions using chloride salts and polyethylene glycol (PEG) powders stabilize high molecular weight water soluble polymers, inhibiting hydration and maintaining stable suspension without additional mixing or thickening agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If mineral oil is used as carrier fluid, then polymer suspension stability is improved, but polymer hydration is excessive leading to solidification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a non-hydrating carrier fluid as an intermediary substance that prevents direct contact between water and the polymer, thereby blocking the harmful hydration effect while maintaining suspension stability. The carrier fluid acts as a protective medium that isolates the polymer from water until the desired application point.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the carrier fluid by selecting substances with specific properties (non-hydrating, water-miscible) that fundamentally alter how the polymer interacts with the environment. This parameter change allows the polymer to remain stable without hydrating.
2Stability of the object's composition
If water soluble polymer is suspended in non-hydrating fluid, then excessive settling is prevented, but polymer ability to hydrate upon dilution is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-suspending the polymer in a non-hydrating carrier fluid that maintains stability during storage and transport. The polymer is prepared in advance in this protective medium, and only upon addition to water does it transition to its functional hydrated state, thus preserving both stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a dynamic system where the polymer's state changes based on environmental conditions. In the carrier fluid, the polymer remains non-hydrated and stable; upon contact with water, it dynamically transitions to a hydrated, functional state. This dynamic behavior allows the polymer to adapt to different operational phases.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If polymer is kept in suspended state, then friction reduction is achieved, but excessive mixing energy is required to prevent settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service by designing a carrier fluid system that inherently maintains polymer suspension stability without requiring continuous external energy input for mixing. The non-hydrating properties of the carrier fluid create a stable environment where polymer particles remain suspended naturally, eliminating the need for energy-consuming agitation mechanisms.
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 chloride salt-PEG system forms stable suspensions that reduce friction and maintain polymer stability, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to mineral oil, suitable for hydraulic fracturing and other fluid flow applications.
Implementation Method 1
The chloride salt may inhibit hydration of the water soluble polymer and the polyethylene glycol
Implementation Method 2
Aqueous suspensions using chloride salts and polyethylene glycol (PEG) powders stabilize high molecular weight water soluble polymers
Implementation Method 3
adding the melted polyethylene glycol to a solution of a chloride salt in water to form a polyethylene glycol salt suspension; and blending a water soluble polymer with the polyethylene glycol salt suspension
Data Source
AI summary
Aqueous suspensions are presented that are stable against settling without additional mixing in which the suspensions comprise a water soluble polymer that is anionic or non-ionic comprising a blend of water with at least about 32 wt % chloride salt with a counter ion A+a with 2≤a, from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % particulate polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight from about 1600 g/mol to about 50,000 g/mol, and from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of the water soluble polymer that is not a polyether. The suspensions have chlorides in a sufficient amount to inhibit hydration of the suspended water soluble polymer and the particulate polyethylene glycol. The aqueous suspension can be formed by adding a powder of polyethylene glycol to a high salt solution and then adding the high molecular weight polymer. The aqueous suspensions can be useful as friction reducing agents in flowing liquids, such as for hydraulic fracture.