Nanofibril Cellulose Additive for Cement Dispersibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing nanofibril cellulose (NFC) result in a water-based solution with low NFC weight percentages, requiring extensive processing or high shear rates for dispersion, making it difficult to achieve a concentrated and easily dispersible form for industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A concentrated NFC additive is developed by surface-treating NFC with surfactants, allowing for easy dispersion in water without high shear or sonication, and is formulated into a cement composition for subterranean treatments, including drilling, fracturing, and cementing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If NFC is concentrated to higher weight percentages, then transport efficiency is improved, but dispersibility deteriorates requiring high shear rates or extended processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-treating the NFC with surfactants during the concentration process. This preliminary surfactant treatment modifies the NFC surface properties before concentration, enabling the concentrated NFC to maintain good dispersibility without requiring subsequent high shear processing or extended mixing times. The surfactant adsorption occurs beforehand, preventing aggregation even at high concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the concentrated NFC and water. The surfactants adsorb onto the NFC surface, creating a protective interface that prevents aggregation and facilitates easy dispersion. This intermediary layer allows the concentrated NFC to be easily dispersed in water without requiring high shear rates, thus resolving the contradiction between concentration and dispersibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If NFC is concentrated to paper-like solid form, then transportability is improved, but processing complexity increases requiring further processing or high shear mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating surfactant treatment during the NFC concentration process itself. This preliminary modification ensures that when NFC reaches paper-like solid form, it already possesses the surface properties needed for easy dispersion. The surfactant is adsorbed beforehand, eliminating the need for complex downstream processing equipment or high shear mixing systems.
3Ease of operation
If NFC is used in water-based solution form, then dispersibility is maintained, but concentration is limited resulting in low NFC weight percentages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses surfactants as intermediary substances that enable high concentration while maintaining dispersibility. The surfactant molecules adsorb onto NFC surfaces, creating repulsive forces that prevent aggregation even at high concentrations. This intermediary layer allows the system to achieve both high NFC weight percentages and good dispersibility simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between concentration and dispersibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the surface properties of NFC through surfactant adsorption. This chemical modification changes the interfacial parameters between NFC and water, enabling the system to sustain much higher NFC concentrations without aggregation. The surfactant treatment fundamentally alters the concentration-dispersibility relationship, allowing high concentration while maintaining ease of dispersion.
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 NFC additive enhances the dispersibility and stability of cement compositions, facilitating their use in subterranean applications by providing a biodegradable, high-strength, and stiff material that can be easily transported and used, improving the efficiency of cementing processes.
Implementation Method 1
The NFC additive may comprise NFC and a surfactant, wherein the NFC has been surface treated with the surfactant adsorbed onto a surface of the NFC
Data Source
AI summary
A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method, a method for well treatment may comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid; and a nanofribril cellulose additive, wherein the nanofribril cellulose additive comprises nanofribril cellulose and a surfactant adsorbed onto a surface of the nanofribril cellulose; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation. Additional systems, methods and compositions are also disclosed.