CO2-Capturing Polymeric Plugging Fluid for Water Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of managing excess water production in oil and gas wells, which leads to corrosion, scale deposition, and economic inefficiencies, along with the need for effective carbon dioxide capture and storage, is not adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A treatment fluid comprising an amine-functionalized solid support, epoxy resin, and a second curing agent is introduced into geological formations to seal high-permeability pathways, using a carbamate-functionalized solid support to trap carbon dioxide and form a crosslinked polymer network that plugs these channels, reducing water production and capturing carbon dioxide for storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional water shutoff methods are used, then water production is reduced, but carbon dioxide emissions are not captured
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment fluid performs multiple functions simultaneously: it shuts off water production through epoxy resin plugging of high-permeability pathways while the amine-functionalized solid support captures carbon dioxide through carbamate formation. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction by addressing both water control and carbon dioxide capture in a single integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two separate processes (water shutoff and carbon dioxide capture) into a single treatment fluid composition. The epoxy resin component handles water plugging while the amine-functionalized solid support handles carbon dioxide absorption, combining these functions in one applied system to simultaneously achieve both objectives.
2Loss of energy
If amine-functionalized solid support is used to capture carbon dioxide, then carbon dioxide is trapped, but the curing mechanism of epoxy resin is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The amine-functionalized solid support is pre-reacted with carbon dioxide to form carbamate groups before being incorporated into the treatment fluid. This preliminary carbon dioxide absorption prevents the amine groups from interfering with the epoxy resin curing process, ensuring reliable crosslinking while maintaining carbon dioxide capture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The carbamate-functionalized solid support acts as an intermediary that has already bound carbon dioxide, preventing the amine groups from acting as unwanted catalysts or reactants during epoxy curing. This intermediary state resolves the conflict between carbon dioxide capture and reliable epoxy resin crosslinking.
3Productivity
If high-permeability pathways are sealed, then water production is controlled, but reservoir permeability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment fluid selectively plugs only the high-permeability pathways that are causing water production problems, while leaving the rest of the reservoir permeability intact. The epoxy resin and crosslinking agents are deposited locally in the thief zones and water channels, maintaining overall reservoir productivity while controlling specific water flow paths.
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 solution effectively reduces water production by blocking high-permeability channels and traps carbon dioxide, improving conformance control and facilitating carbon dioxide storage through structural and mineral trapping mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The amine-functionalized solid support has reacted previously with carbon dioxide to produce a carbamate-functionalized solid support
Implementation Method 2
the epoxy resin cures and seals the high-permeability pathways. Once the treatment fluid is introduced, the epoxy resin cures and seals the high-permeability pathways
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment fluid and method for water shut-off applications containing an amine-functionalized solid support, an epoxy resin, a second curing agent, and a carrier fluid. Prior to use of the treatment fluid, the amine-functionalized solid support has reacted with carbon dioxide to produce a carbamate-functionalized solid support. The treatment fluid is introduced into a geological formation with high-permeability pathways, curing the epoxy resin, and sealing these pathways.