Fluorescent Gel Fluid Composite for Fracture Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for shutting off produced water in hydrocarbon wellbores are ineffective in analyzing the placement and performance of water shut-off agents, leading to increased handling costs and productivity issues due to scale formation and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A gel fluid composite comprising silica nanoparticles and fluorescent compounds is injected into fractures in the wellbore, transforming from an aqueous phase to a gel phase to seal fractures, with the fluorescent compounds allowing for detection of the gel fluid's positional location and performance using light irradiation and a detection device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatment fluids are applied to prevent produced water from entering the wellbore, then water shut off performance is improved, but the ability to monitor and evaluate the treatment fluid placement and effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates fluorescent compounds into the gel fluid composite that emit light when irradiated, creating a visual indicator system. This allows the treatment fluid to be tracked and monitored through fluorescence detection, directly resolving the monitoring difficulty while maintaining water shut off effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorescent compounds act as an intermediary substance within the gel fluid composite. These compounds do not directly participate in the water shut off function but provide the monitoring capability by emitting detectable signals, thus enabling evaluation of treatment fluid placement and performance without interfering with the primary function.
2Productivity
If gel fluid composite with fluorescent compounds is used to seal fractures, then water production reduction is improved, but the complexity of the treatment fluid composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining gel fluid, silica nanoparticles, and fluorescent compounds into a single gel fluid composite. This composite approach integrates multiple functions (sealing, structural reinforcement, and monitoring) into one material system, improving productivity while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel fluid composite performs multiple functions simultaneously: it seals fractures to prevent water production, provides structural support through silica nanoparticles, and enables monitoring through fluorescent compounds. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate treatment fluids and procedures, ultimately simplifying the overall treatment process despite the sophisticated composition.
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 gel fluid composite effectively reduces unwanted water production by sealing fractures and provides clear monitoring of its placement and effectiveness, enhancing hydrocarbon extraction efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating light onto the gel fluid composite so that the fluorescent compounds emit one or more photons
Implementation Method 2
transforming the gel fluid composite from an aqueous phase to a gel phase
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiments disclosed herein, a method of monitoring a gel fluid composite may include directing the gel fluid composite into a wellbore extending into a subsurface where the wellbore has one or more downhole fractures so that the gel fluid composite enters the one or more downhole fractures, transforming the gel fluid composite from an aqueous phase to a gel phase, irradiating light onto the gel fluid composite so that the fluorescent compounds emit one or more photons, and detecting the one or more photons using a detection device. The gel fluid composite may include a nanosilica gel that includes silica nanoparticles and an activator, wherein the silica nanoparticles have a maximum cross-sectional dimension of from 3 nm to 100 nm, and one or more fluorescent compounds, wherein the one or more fluorescent compounds are dispersed in the nanosilica gel, bonded to the silica nanoparticles, or both.