Colloidal Silica Emulsion for Selective Water Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for oil production intensification, such as those using invert-emulsion solutions and colloidal silica nanoparticles, face challenges with stability and effectiveness in blocking water-saturated intervals, requiring detonating hydroxyl donors and complex equipment setups, and are not optimized for production wells.
Innovation Solution
Development of highly stable emulsion solutions using colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles, with compositions tailored to reservoir rock wettability, to selectively block water-saturated intervals and enhance oil production by reducing permeability and viscosity, allowing for efficient acid composition interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If invert-emulsion solution is used to block water-saturated intervals, then water inflow is reduced, but emulsion stability in reservoir conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the emulsion composition parameters by adding colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles and adjusting the ratio of hydrocarbon phase to aqueous phase. These parameter changes enhance the emulsion's stability in reservoir conditions while maintaining its water-blocking capability. The nanoparticles provide structural stability and prevent emulsion breakdown at elevated temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite emulsion system combining colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles with hydrocarbon and aqueous phases. This composite structure leverages the unique properties of nanoparticles to stabilize the emulsion interface, preventing phase separation and maintaining functionality in harsh reservoir environments while effectively blocking water flow.
2Reliability
If colloidal silica nanoparticles are used to form gel, then water-saturated intervals are blocked, but high temperature is required to trigger gelation reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent lowers the gelation temperature by modifying the chemical composition and adding catalysts. This allows the gel-forming reaction to occur at reservoir temperatures without requiring external heating, enabling effective treatment of water-saturated intervals under in-situ conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulsion formulation includes components that automatically trigger gelation when exposed to reservoir conditions, eliminating the need for external temperature activation. The system self-activates upon contact with formation water, providing autonomous gel formation for effective interval isolation.
3Reliability
If detonating hydroxyl donor is pumped into BHZ, then gelation is triggered, but low viscosity solution passes through absorbing intervals to reservoir deep without blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent increases the viscosity of the hydroxyl donor solution by adding thickening agents and adjusting composition. This modified viscosity ensures the solution remains in the target water-saturated intervals long enough to trigger complete gelation, preventing premature flow through to deeper reservoir zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The emulsion is designed to gel immediately upon contact with formation water in the target intervals. This preliminary gelation action occurs before the solution can be displaced to deeper zones, ensuring effective blocking of water flow at the intended treatment location.
4Productivity
If emulsion is used to block water intervals, then oil production increases, but treatment duration is limited to 4 months before water-cut increases again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite gel structure combining colloidal silicon dioxide with emulsion components that forms a stable, long-lasting barrier. This composite material maintains its blocking effectiveness over extended periods, preventing water breakthrough and sustaining enhanced oil production for durations exceeding the previous 4-month limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment design incorporates readily available, cost-effective materials that form stable long-term barriers. The use of common colloidal silica and standard emulsion components creates a durable treatment effect that extends the productive life of the well without requiring expensive specialized materials.
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 use of colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles in emulsions increases viscosity and thermal stability, enabling effective selective blocking of water-saturated intervals, leading to increased oil production and improved well efficiency with high fluid rates.
Implementation Method 1
containing a colloidal solution of silica nanoparticles with a diameter of from 4 to 300 nm
Implementation Method 2
The use of colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles in emulsions increases viscosity and thermal stability
Implementation Method 3
The ability of the IES to reduce viscosity when interacting with the hydrocarbon phase prevents clogging of low-permeable intervals
Implementation Method 4
A hydroxyl donor necessary for gelation is present in the oil reservoir, which at elevated temperatures releases hydroxyl groups and thereby contributes to the formation of a gelling agent
Implementation Method 5
at elevated temperatures releases hydroxyl groups
Implementation Method 6
limiting water inflows by artificially reducing the permeability of highly permeable intervals of the reservoir
Implementation Method 7
an oil pack, which is a buffer and preventing the interaction of the emulsion with an acid composition
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the oil industry, in particular to the methods for intensification of oil production with the aim of increasing the oil recovery factor. The technical result of the claimed invention is to increase the stability of the emulsion, additional oil production, increase efficiency in wells with high flow rates due to the selective blocking of the water-saturated intervals. The essence of the invention lies in the sequential treatment of BHZ with an emulsion, limiting water inflows by artificially reducing the permeability of highly permeable intervals of the reservoir, an oil pack, which is a buffer and preventing the interaction of the emulsion with an acid composition, which is injected after. In this case, the wettability of reservoir rock in the BHZ is preliminarily determined, and in the case of hydrophilicity of the reservoir rock a direct type of the emulsion with the following composition is used, % mass.: hydrocarbon phase - 20-25, emulsifier - 3-5, colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles - 0.5-3, aqueous phase - rest. In the case of hydrophobicity of the reservoir rock in use the invert type of emulsion of the following composition, % mass.: hydrocarbon phase - 40-45, emulsifier - 3-5, colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles - 1-3, aqueous phase - rest. The colloidal silicon dioxide nanoparticles contains, % mass.: colloidal silicon dioxide in acrylic acid - 40, propylene glycol monomethyl ether - 59.5, water - the rest. As an emulsifier, an emulsifier of the brand Sinol EM or Sinol EMI can be used. As a hydrocarbon phase diesel fuel or prepared oil from the oil gathering station in use. As an aqueous phase a water solution of calcium chloride or sodium chloride in use. 4 depended clause, 7 figures.