Mussel Bionic Gel for Fracture Profile Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gel-type profile control and water plugging agents for low-permeability fractured reservoirs face issues such as high initial viscosity, poor injection performance, and difficulty in migration due to shearing and formation water effects, leading to ineffective sweep and displacement in oil field development.
Innovation Solution
A mussel bionic gel composition is developed, comprising a mussel bionic copolymer or compound with a vinyl-containing mussel bionic catechol group monomer and a cross-linking agent, which forms a self-repairing gel that can be used to create a self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent with low initial apparent viscosity, enhancing injection and migration capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional gel-type profile control and water plugging agent is used, then the reservoir can be controlled, but the initial viscosity is high and injection performance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gel system adaptable to different conditions. The gel composition includes cross-linking agents that enable the gel to dynamically adjust its properties in response to environmental conditions such as temperature and salinity, transforming from a static high-viscosity material to a dynamic system that can inject easily and then strengthen in situ
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by formulating the gel with specific polymers and cross-linking agents that change physical and chemical parameters under reservoir conditions. The gel transitions from a low-viscosity injectable state to a high-strength plugging state through changes in temperature, pressure, and chemical composition in the reservoir environment
2Strength
If a conventional gel-type profile control and water plugging agent is used, then the reservoir can be controlled, but the migration capacity in fractures is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gel system dynamically adapts to fracture geometries during migration. The composition allows the gel to flow and penetrate fracture networks under injection pressure, then dynamically set and strengthen in place, providing both migration capacity and final plugging strength
Solution Approach 2:
The gel undergoes parameter changes that enable it to migrate in fractures initially (lower viscosity state) and then transform to a high-strength plugging structure. The cross-linking process and environmental response change the gel's physical parameters in situ, allowing it to adapt to the fracture network geometry
3Ease of operation
If the gel is affected by multiple shearing, formation water dilution, or rock adsorption, then the gel structure is weakened, but the gel needs to maintain stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating cross-linking agents and stabilizing components in the gel composition that pre-prepare the gel to resist shearing, dilution, and adsorption. These components create a protective gel structure that cushions against the harmful effects of formation water and rock interactions before they can significantly weaken the gel
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple polymers and cross-linking agents in a synergistic formulation. This composite gel composition provides enhanced stability and resistance to shearing, dilution, and adsorption compared to single-component gels, as the different components work together to maintain gel integrity under reservoir conditions
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 self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent exhibits improved shear repairing performance, stable dispersion, and increased strength, allowing for effective adjustment of micro-fracture networks and enhanced waterflood efficiency in low-permeability fractured reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
a mussel bionic gel composition for preparing a self-repairing gel, including: a mussel bionic copolymer and/or a mussel bionic compound, a cross-linking agent and water
Implementation Method 2
The self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent exhibits improved shear repairing performance
Implementation Method 3
self-repairing gel that can be used to create a self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent with low initial apparent viscosity, enhancing injection and migration capabilities
Implementation Method 4
self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent
Implementation Method 5
effective adjustment of micro-fracture networks and enhanced waterflood efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A mussel bionic gel composition includes: a mussel bionic copolymer and/or a mussel bionic compound, a cross-linking agent and water, wherein the mussel bionic copolymer includes a structural unit A from a vinyl monomer and a structural unit B from a vinyl-containing mussel bionic catechol group monomer; and the mussel bionic compound includes polyacrylamide and a mussel bionic catechol compound. The self-growth gel particle profile control and water plugging agent prepared from the composition is low in initial apparent viscosity, easy to inject and far in migration, has good shear repairing performance and is particularly applicable to a low-permeability fractured reservoir, thereby adjusting a micro-fracture network, improving a fracture channel and increasing waterflood efficiency and recovery efficiency.