Hydrolysis-Blocking Agent for Underground Resource Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing methods face challenges in forming and maintaining cracks in ore chutes due to gas pressure, leading to inefficient resource extraction and potential environmental contamination from hydrolysable diverting agents.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a hydrolysis-blocking agent with a glass transition temperature lower than the extraction environment and a crystallization index of not more than 70 J/g, which is a copolymerized polyoxalate, to block and temporarily close cracks, ensuring effective pressure application and delayed hydrolysis for controlled resource extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydrolysable diverting agent is used to temporarily close cracks, then the fluid pressure can be applied effectively to form larger cracks, but the diverting agent may undergo unintended hydrolysis and fail to maintain crack closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blocking agent as an intermediary substance that coats the diverting agent particles. This blocking agent prevents direct contact between the diverting agent and ground water, thereby preventing unintended hydrolysis. The blocking agent acts as a protective mediator that maintains the diverting agent's integrity until the desired time for resource extraction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the diverting agent by coating it with a blocking agent having specific properties (hydrophobicity, molecular structure). This parameter change protects the diverting agent from hydrolysis while maintaining its ability to close cracks. The blocking agent's specific chemical characteristics create a barrier against water penetration
2Reliability
If proppant particles are forcibly introduced into cracks using pressurized fracturing fluid, then the cracks can be supported and maintained, but the process may cause environmental contamination and fail to form adequate channels for resource flow
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking agent serves as an intermediary that enables proppant delivery without direct use of large volumes of fracturing fluid. By coating the diverting agent and proppant, the blocking agent allows for controlled introduction of support materials while minimizing fluid-related environmental contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable blocking agents that temporarily perform their protective function and then naturally decompose. This disposable approach eliminates long-term environmental contamination concerns, as the blocking agent breaks down after serving its purpose of enabling controlled proppant delivery and crack support
3Productivity
If the diverting agent is used to close cracks, then fluid infiltration is prevented and crack growth is controlled, but gas flow may escape through unclosed cracks reducing extraction efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking agent acts as an intermediary coating on diverting agent particles, enhancing their sealing effectiveness. This dual-layer approach (diverting agent + blocking agent coating) creates more reliable crack closure compared to using diverting agent alone, preventing both fluid infiltration and gas escape
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 hydrolysis-blocking agent effectively suppresses gas flow and fluid infiltration, allowing for the formation and growth of cracks necessary for resource extraction while preventing environmental contamination by eventually undergoing hydrolysis and decomposing, thus facilitating efficient and safe resource recovery.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrolysis-blocking agent... eventually undergoing hydrolysis and decomposing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extracting the underground resources by pressurizing a fluid filled in an ore chute in which cracks are formed and by, further, forming or growing the cracks, the underground resources being extracted through the cracks, wherein a hydrolysis-blocking agent is introduced with pressure into the fluid to block a diverting agent that works to temporarily close the cracks.