Degradable Polymer Wellbore Fluids with Accelerated Breakdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Degradable polymers used in wellbore servicing operations often require controlled degradation rates and durations, which are challenging to achieve, especially at varying bottom-hole temperatures, leading to prolonged waiting times for polymer breakdown and increased polymer quantities.
Innovation Solution
The use of degradation accelerators (DAs) such as alkanolamines, aziridine oligomers, and diamines, which are introduced as pumpable fluids or particulate salts, to accelerate the degradation of degradable polymers like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by swelling and hydrolyzing them, allowing for controlled breakdown and reduced polymer amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If degradable polymers are used in wellbore servicing operations, then they can degrade to leave voids and improve permeability, but the degradation rate is difficult to control and requires prolonged waiting times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing degradation accelerators that modify the chemical environment to accelerate polymer degradation. Specifically, pH-modifying agents (acids or bases) are introduced to change the pH parameter, creating conditions that speed up hydrolysis of the polymer chains. Temperature is another parameter that can be modified by introducing heated fluids to increase degradation rate. These parameter changes enable controlled acceleration of degradation without requiring prolonged waiting times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses degradation accelerators as intermediary substances that mediate between the polymer and the environment. These accelerators (such as pH-modifying agents, enzymes, or metal ions) act as catalysts or mediators that facilitate the degradation process. The intermediary substances interact with the polymer to speed up breakdown while being introduced in controlled amounts, allowing prediction and control of degradation timing.
2Reliability
If degradable polymers are used to perform desired functions downhole, then they can act as temporary restrictions or coatings, but larger quantities are needed to ensure sufficient degradation performance
Solution Approach 1:
Degradation accelerators serve as intermediary substances that enhance the degradation efficiency of the polymer. By introducing these accelerators (pH-modifying agents, enzymes, metal ions), the polymer degrades more effectively and predictably, reducing the total quantity needed to achieve the desired function. The intermediary substances catalyze or facilitate the degradation process, making each unit of polymer more effective.
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying environmental parameters (pH, temperature) through introduced agents, the degradation rate and completeness are enhanced. This allows smaller quantities of polymer to achieve the same level of performance and degradation, as the controlled parameter changes ensure more efficient breakdown of the polymer material.
3Stability of the object's composition
If degradable polymers are used at lower bottom-hole temperatures, then they remain stable for longer durations, but degradation takes weeks or months which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses low-temperature stability issues by introducing pH-modifying agents that change the chemical parameter of the environment. Even at lower temperatures where thermal degradation is slow, the pH change creates chemical conditions that accelerate hydrolysis and degradation of the polymer. This decouples the relationship between temperature and degradation rate, allowing controlled degradation regardless of bottom-hole temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
Degradation accelerators act as intermediaries that facilitate polymer breakdown under low-temperature conditions. These substances (acids, bases, enzymes) provide an alternative degradation pathway that does not rely solely on thermal energy. The intermediary agents lower the activation energy required for degradation, enabling the polymer to degrade in weeks rather than months even at lower temperatures.
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
This approach enables faster and more predictable degradation of degradable polymers, reducing waiting times and polymer quantities, while maintaining performance objectives, such as improving permeability and facilitating fluid flowback.
Implementation Method 1
degradation accelerators (DAs) such as alkanolamines, aziridine oligomers, and diamines, which are introduced as pumpable fluids or particulate salts, to accelerate the degradation of degradable polymers like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by swelling and hydrolyzing them
Implementation Method 2
degradation accelerators (DAs) such as alkanolamines, aziridine oligomers, and diamines, which are introduced as pumpable fluids or particulate salts, to accelerate the degradation of degradable polymers like poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by swelling and hydrolyzing them
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of servicing a wellbore and/or a subterranean formation including introducing a wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore and/or the subterranean formation to degrade a degradable polymer therein by contacting the degradable polymer with a liquid neutralized degradation accelerator. The wellbore servicing fluid comprises a particulate salt degradation accelerator and a neutralizer activator. The particulate salt degradation accelerator is formed by reacting a degradation accelerator solution with an acid, the neutralizer activator is capable of dissociating the acid by neutralization from the particulate salt degradation accelerator so as to form the liquid neutralized degradation accelerator.