Hydrophobically Associating Copolymer for Temperature-Stable Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrophobically associating copolymers used in mineral oil production face challenges such as viscosity decrease with rising temperature and high gel content, which can block porous formations and hinder efficient mineral oil and gas extraction.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble hydrophobically associating copolymer with a specific monoethylenically unsaturated monomer structure and a hydrophilic monomer, copolymerized in the presence of a non-polymerizable surfactant, which maintains viscosity with increasing temperature and reduces gel content, suitable for use in hydraulic fracturing, completion fluids, and drilling muds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional hydrophobically associating copolymers are used as thickeners in mineral oil production, then thickening effect is achieved, but viscosity decreases with rising temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the copolymer by incorporating specific monomers (vinyl ether/vinyl alcohol units with alkylene oxide chains) to achieve temperature-resistant thickening. This compositional modification allows the polymer to maintain its thickening effectiveness across a wide temperature range from 0°C to 120°C, resolving the contradiction between temperature stability and viscosity maintenance.
2Reliability
If existing copolymers are used to thicken aqueous phases, then thickening is achieved, but gel content increases which blocks porous formations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific structural regions within the copolymer chains - hydrophobic alkylene oxide chains localized at specific positions provide thickening through hydrophobic association, while the overall copolymer structure maintains water solubility. This localized functional arrangement achieves effective thickening without excessive gel formation that would block porous formations.
3Power
If biopolymers like guar are used in hydraulic fracturing, then thickening is achieved, but viscosity decreases with rising temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining vinyl ether/vinyl alcohol units with alkylene oxide chains and hydrophilic monomers. This composite structure integrates the thickening capability from hydrophobic association with temperature stability from the specific monomer composition, achieving both high thickening power and temperature resistance required for hydraulic fracturing applications.
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 copolymer exhibits an advantageous viscosity profile that increases with temperature up to 60°C, reducing gel content and enhancing the effectiveness of thickening and stabilizing properties in underground mineral oil and gas operations.
Implementation Method 1
In aqueous solution, such hydrophobic groups can associate with each other or with other substances having hydrophobic groups. This forms an associative network by which the medium is thickened.
Implementation Method 2
The invention of copolymers with temperature-resistant thickening action is of great practical importance. Aqueous copolymer solutions exhibit a remarkably flat viscosity profile over a very wide temperature range from 0°C to 120°C.
Implementation Method 3
wherein the copolymer is obtainable through copolymerization of the monomers (a) and (b) in the presence of at least one surfactant (c)
Data Source
AI summary
What is proposed is the use of a water-soluble hydrophobically associating copolymer as an additive in the development, exploitation and completion of underground mineral oil and natural gas deposits and in deep drillings, wherein the copolymer comprises (a) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer (a) selected fromH2C═C(R1)—R4—O—(—CH2—CH2—O—)k—(—CH2—CH(R3)—O—)l—R5 (I), and/orH2C═C(R1)—O—(—CH2—CH2—O—)k—R2 (II),and (b) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated, hydrophilic monomer (b) different from monomer (a),wherein the copolymer is obtainable through copolymerization of the monomers (a) and (b) in the presence of at least one surfactant (c).