Crosslinked Microsphere Plugging Material for High-Salinity Micro-Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polymer microsphere plugging systems fail to meet the requirements of high temperature and high salinity resistance, and are unsuitable for micro-channel environments, with complex preparation processes and poor stability.
Innovation Solution
A plugging material prepared from PETA-modified bisphenol A epoxy resin, addition product of m-phenylenediamine and methacrylic acid, nanosilica dispersion liquid, and water, with a controlled emulsification and curing process to form crosslinked microspheres that withstand high temperatures and salinity, enhancing plugging performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-synthesized polymer microspheres are used for water plugging, then plugging capability is improved, but the preparation process becomes complex and the system cannot withstand high-pressure plugging
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables in-situ self-generating microspheres that form automatically within the formation pore throats after injection. The gel-forming fluid transforms directly into solid microspheres through phase transition and shear force, eliminating the need for complex pre-synthesis and injection processes. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall preparation and application process while maintaining effective plugging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the gel-forming fluid to achieve optimal performance. By adjusting the composition ratio of gel-forming fluid components and controlling phase transition temperature, the system achieves effective microsphere generation under field conditions. The parameter optimization enables the system to withstand high-pressure plugging while maintaining simplicity in preparation and application.
2Device complexity
If in-situ self-generating gel-forming fluid is used, then plugging mechanism is simplified, but the fluid has complex composition, poor stability, and short phase transition time making it difficult to reach target formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite gel-forming fluid system with optimized composition ratios. By combining multiple components with complementary properties, the system achieves both simplified plugging mechanism and improved fluid stability. The composite formulation extends phase transition time to enable accurate delivery to target formations while maintaining the simplicity of the in-situ self-generating mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary stabilization of the gel-forming fluid composition before injection. By pre-optimizing the composition ratio and ensuring proper stability, the fluid maintains its properties during transport to the target formation. This preliminary action prevents premature phase transition and ensures reliable delivery, while the in-situ generation mechanism remains simple and effective.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional chemical water plugging is used, then controllability and adaptability are improved, but the system fails to meet requirements under harsh conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the physical and chemical parameters of the gel-forming fluid to enhance performance under harsh conditions. By adjusting composition ratios, phase transition temperature, and other critical parameters, the system maintains reliability in high-temperature and high-salinity environments while preserving the controllability and adaptability needed for effective water plugging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite gel-forming fluid formulation that combines multiple components with complementary properties. This composite material provides both the adaptability required for different formation conditions and the reliability needed to withstand harsh environments. The synergistic effect of the composite components enables the system to perform effectively under a wide range of operating conditions.
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 material exhibits robust plugging capability, high temperature and salt resistance, and adaptive particle size for micro-channels, achieving effective water plugging with controlled phase transition and improved mechanical strength.
Implementation Method 1
The shear force during fluid flow gradually solidifies the fluid into hard microspheres within the pore throats
Implementation Method 2
During injection, the microspheres absorb water and swell, thereby plugging high-permeability layers
Data Source
AI summary
A plugging material is prepared from the following raw materials in terms of mass fractions, which include: 1 to 3.6 parts of PETA-modified bisphenol A epoxy resin, 1.5 to 2.4 parts of addition product of m-phenylenediamine and methacrylic acid, 0.12 to 0.17 parts of nanosilica dispersion liquid, with the remainder being water, such that the sum of the mass fractions of the aforementioned raw materials totals 100 parts. The preparation method includes: pouring a water phase mixture into a continuously stirred oil-phase mixture to form a gel-forming liquid through continued stirring; transferring the gel-forming liquid to be mixed with dibenzoyl peroxide, and stirring and reacting at a temperature of 50° C. to 120° C. to obtain the plugging material. The plugging material is resistant to high temperatures and high salinity, and exhibits strong plugging performance.