Silicon Dioxide Janus Nanosheets for Water Control in Carbonate Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available water control chemicals are not effective in carbonate formations and often fail to perform adequately in sandstone formations, leading to excessive water production in hydrocarbon wells, which affects economic viability and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Development of silicon oxide Janus nanosheets Relative Permeability Modifiers (RPMs) with functional groups and alkyl groups that form specific bonds with rock surfaces in both carbonate and sandstone formations, reducing water permeability while allowing oil permeability to remain unaffected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercially available water control chemicals are used, then water production is controlled in sandstone formations, but they are not effective in carbonate formations and fail to perform adequately in sandstone formations
Solution Approach 1:
The nanosheet is designed with asymmetric functionalization where one surface has hydrophilic functional groups (COOH, OH, O-) for bonding to carbonate rock surfaces, while the other surface has hydrophobic alkyl groups (C8-C30) for water resistance. This local quality differentiation enables the single material to effectively control water in both carbonate and sandstone formations by adapting its interaction mechanism to different formation types.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining silicon oxide nanosheet base material with grafted functional groups and alkyl chains. This composite material integrates the bonding capability for carbonate formations with hydrophobic water blocking properties, achieving reliable water control across different formation types including both carbonate and sandstone formations.
2Quantity of substance
If RPM treatment is applied to reduce water permeability, then water production is reduced, but oil permeability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The nanosheet creates localized water-resistant barriers on pore surfaces through hydrophobic alkyl group orientation, selectively blocking water flow paths while maintaining oil flow capability. The asymmetric structure ensures hydrophobic groups face the pore space to repel water, while the thin nanosheet configuration (24-95 nm) allows oil to penetrate through the modified pores, achieving disproportionate permeability reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment changes the surface energy parameters of the rock pores by introducing hydrophobic alkyl groups, transforming the pore surface from water-wet to oil-wet or neutral. This parameter change in surface chemistry selectively reduces water permeability while maintaining adequate oil permeability, enabling water production reduction without significantly affecting hydrocarbon production.
3Ease of operation
If conventional water control chemicals are used, then deployment is simple, but they cannot form chemical bonds with carbonate rock surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The nanosheet incorporates hydrophilic functional groups (COOH, OH, O-) on one surface that can form chemical bonds with carbonate rock surfaces containing calcium ions. This localized bonding capability ensures reliable attachment to carbonate formations, while the bulk material maintains ease of deployment through simple injection methods similar to conventional RPM treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional groups on the nanosheet surface act as chemical intermediaries that facilitate bonding between the injected material and the carbonate rock surface. These functional groups serve as mediators that can interact with calcium ions and other surface components of carbonate rocks, enabling reliable chemical attachment without requiring complex deployment procedures.
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 silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPMs effectively reduce water permeability in both carbonate and sandstone formations by forming ionic or covalent bonds with rock surfaces, creating a water-resistant barrier that allows oil to flow, thereby enhancing hydrocarbon production and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
forming ionic or covalent bonds with rock surfaces
Implementation Method 2
forming ionic or covalent bonds with rock surfaces
Implementation Method 3
an alkyl group linked to the second side, the alkyl group selected from the group consisting of a C8-C30 alkyl
Data Source
AI summary
A silicon oxide Janus nanosheets relatively permeability modifier (RPM) for carbonate and sandstone formations. The silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPM may be used to treat a water and hydrocarbon producing carbonate or sandstone formation to reduce water permeability in the formation and increase the production of hydrocarbons. The silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPM for carbonate formations includes a first side having negatively charged functional groups and a second side having alkyl groups. The silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPM for sandstone formations includes a first side having positively charged functional groups and a second side having alkyl groups. The negatively charged functional groups may include a negatively charged oxygen group groups and hydroxyl groups. The positively charged functional groups may include amino groups and an amine. Methods of reducing water permeability using the silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPM and methods of manufacturing the silicon oxide Janus nanosheets RPM are also provided.