HMAP Emulsions for Particulate Consolidation and Scale Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In subterranean formation operations, traditional tackifiers used to consolidate particulates often accumulate on wellbore tools, leading to costly cleanup operations and formation damage, while scale buildup in hydrocarbon production systems reduces permeability and requires time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly chemical cleaning.

Innovation Solution

The use of hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymer (HMAP) surface modification agent emulsions, which form an aqueous-external phase, allowing for direct introduction into formations to consolidate particulates and mitigate scale buildup without sticky residue on tools, compatible with aqueous fluids and suitable for use during fracture-acidizing operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tackifiers are used to consolidate particulates, then particulate migration is mitigated, but accumulation on wellbore tools occurs leading to costly cleanup operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticulate consolidation effectivenessVSAvoidtackifier accumulation on tools

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the tackifier by using hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymers with specific molecular weights and hydrophobicity levels. This modification allows the tackifier to bind particulates effectively while reducing its tendency to accumulate on wellbore tools, thus resolving the contradiction between consolidation effectiveness and tool accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses composite material structures by combining hydrophobic modifications with amine-containing polymer backbones. This composite approach creates a tackifier that has dual functionality: strong particulate binding capability combined with reduced adhesion to wellbore tools, thereby solving the accumulation problem while maintaining consolidation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional tackifiers are used to stabilize particulates, then formation fines are consolidated, but sticky residue accumulates requiring time-consuming cleanup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticulate stabilityVSAvoidcleanup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By modifying the chemical parameters of the tackifier through hydrophobic modification of amine-containing polymers, the invention achieves stable particulate consolidation while minimizing sticky residue formation. This parameter change reduces the time required for cleanup operations while maintaining formation fines stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If scale buildup occurs in production systems, then permeability is reduced, but chemical cleaning is required which is environmentally unfriendly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermeability maintenanceVSAvoidenvironmental impact of cleaning chemicals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymer acts in advance to prevent scale buildup on production equipment and formation surfaces. By applying this protective polymer coating beforehand, scale accumulation is prevented, eliminating the need for environmentally unfriendly chemical cleaning operations while maintaining permeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful interaction between formation fluids and equipment into a beneficial protective coating. The hydrophobically modified polymer creates a protective barrier that prevents scale formation, turning what would be a harmful buildup into a controlled protective layer that eliminates cleaning requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Reduces the frequency and cost of remedial operations by effectively stabilizing particulates and preventing scale formation, enhancing production efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

hyperphobically modified amine-containing polymer (HMAP)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic modification: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

surface modification agent emulsions comprising hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEmulsion formation: Emulsion

Data Source

PatentUS9890322B2Surface modification agent emulsions comprising hydrophobically modified amine-containing polymers for use in subterranean formations

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Methods including preparing a surface modification agent emulsion comprising an aqueous base fluid, a surfactant, and a hydrophobically-modified amine-containing polymer (HMAP), the HMAP comprising a plurality of hydrophobic modifications on an amine-containing polymer, and wherein the aqueous base fluid forms an external phase of the surface modification agent emulsion and the HMAP forms an internal phase of the surface modification agent emulsion; and introducing the surface modification agent emulsion into a subterranean formation.