Elastic Gelled Sealant Composition for Subterranean Formation Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Subterranean formation operations face challenges with unwanted water and gas influx during oil production, leading to reduced efficiency and increased costs due to unplanned fractures and loss of conformance materials in high-permeability zones.
Innovation Solution
The development of elastic gelled sealant compositions comprising an aqueous base fluid, a crosslinkable polymer composition, and an elastic gellable composition, which form a tacky and thixotropic sealant that can deform elastically and adhere to the formation, reducing fluid influx by forming a stable seal in high-permeability areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conformance materials are used to seal high-permeability zones, then water and gas influx is reduced, but the materials are lost into unplanned fractures due to high formation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of the conformance material by incorporating foam generation components. The foam reduces the effective density of the treatment fluid, allowing it to remain in high-permeability zones rather than sinking into unplanned fractures. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling the material to seal effectively without being lost to fractures caused by pressure differentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition by incorporating foaming agents that generate gas bubbles within the treatment fluid. This phase transition from liquid to foam creates a low-density material that can be held in place by formation pressure, preventing both material loss into fractures and ensuring effective sealing of high-permeability zones.
2Reliability
If high-density conformance materials are used to seal fractures, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but materials are lost into unplanned fractures due to gravity and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the density parameter by creating foam structures within the conformance material. This foam-generated low-density material counteracts gravitational forces and pressure differentials that would otherwise cause high-density materials to sink into unplanned fractures, while maintaining sealing effectiveness in target zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam structure acts as a counterweight mechanism, where the gas bubbles provide buoyancy that opposes the downward force of gravity and formation pressure. This anti-weight effect prevents material loss into unplanned fractures while maintaining the material in position for effective sealing.
3Reliability
If conformance treatments are performed in depleted zones, then water and gas shutoff is achieved, but unplanned fractures form due to excessive wellbore pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of the treatment fluid by incorporating foam. This low-density foam reduces the hydrostatic pressure exerted on depleted zones during injection, preventing the formation of unplanned fractures while maintaining sufficient pressure to achieve effective water and gas shutoff in target zones.
4Productivity
If sealant compositions are used to prevent water and gas influx, then production efficiency is improved, but costly remedial actions and downtime are required when seals fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates foam stability components and elastic polymers that provide a cushioning effect, allowing the seal to accommodate formation movements and pressure changes without failing. This beforehand cushioning prevents seal failure that would otherwise require costly remedial actions and production downtime, thereby protecting productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses elastic polymers that provide dynamic response to formation movements. These materials can deform and recover, adapting to changing formation conditions without losing sealing effectiveness. This dynamic property prevents seal failure and the associated production downtime, maintaining continuous productivity.
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 elastic gelled sealant compositions effectively prevent or reduce the flow of water and gas, maintaining a stable seal despite movement and extreme conditions, thereby enhancing oil recovery efficiency and reducing costly downtime.
Implementation Method 1
crosslinking the sealant composition into a gel to form an elastic gelled sealant composition
Implementation Method 2
the elastic gelled compositions may exhibit increased elongation at break profiles and a tacky characteristic, due to the presence of an elastic gellable composition
Implementation Method 3
form a tacky and thixotropic sealant that can deform elastically
Data Source
AI summary
Methods comprising providing a sealant composition comprising an aqueous base fluid and a crosslinkable polymer composition, wherein the crosslinkable polymer composition comprises a crosslinkable organic polymer and a crosslinker; introducing an elastic gellable composition into the sealant composition, wherein the elastic gellable composition is an aqueous emulsion comprising an aqueous continuous phase and a dispersed phase comprising elastomeric polymers; introducing the sealant composition into a subterranean formation; and crosslinking the sealant composition into a gel to form a seal in the subterranean formation, thereby forming an elastic gelled sealant composition, wherein the elastic gellable composition reduces the brittleness of the elastic gelled sealant composition as compared to the sealant composition without the elastic gellable composition.