Nanoparticle-Surfactant Composition for Stable Water Injectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chemical additives for enhanced oil recovery, such as surfactants and polymers, face instability in high temperature and high salinity conditions, leading to reduced efficacy and precipitation, and there is a need for improved compositions to enhance water injectivity, gas lift flow, and deposit removal in subterranean formations.

Innovation Solution

Combining amine-functionalized nanoparticles with foaming surfactants, such as amphoteric, anionic, and nonionic surfactants, to form compositions that are stable in high temperature and high salinity conditions, enhancing water injectivity and gas lift flow while removing deposits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surfactants and polymers are used for enhanced oil recovery, then interfacial tension is lowered and wettability is increased, but stability is reduced in high temperature and high salinity conditions leading to precipitation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of chemical additivesVSAvoidefficacy of chemical additives

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines nanoparticles with surfactants to create composite chemical additives. The nanoparticle-surfactant复合结构 maintains the interfacial tension lowering and wettability enhancement benefits of surfactants while adding thermal and salinity stability through the nanoparticle component, preventing precipitation in harsh reservoir conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating nanoparticles with specific surface properties and functional groups. This changes the physical and chemical parameters of the additive system, enabling stability across a broader range of temperatures and salinities while maintaining recovery efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If water is injected into the well to increase pressure for hydrocarbon recovery, then hydrocarbon yield is increased, but organic and inorganic deposits accumulate on pumps and valves increasing pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon recovery rateVSAvoidpressure across pumps and valves

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces chemical additives that specifically target and remove deposited materials from pump and valve surfaces. The additives extract and solubilize the accumulated organic and inorganic deposits, allowing them to be flushed from the system, thereby reducing the pressure buildup on equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical additives act as intermediaries between the injected water and the deposit surfaces. They facilitate the removal of deposits by forming soluble complexes with the deposited materials, enabling cleanin gaction without direct mechanical contact and reducing pressure on pumps and valves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If reservoir pressure is increased to move liquid to the surface, then hydrocarbon recovery is enhanced, but fluid density increases reducing gas lift flow efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon recovery rateVSAvoidgas lift flow velocity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition mechanisms where the chemical additives modify the fluid properties to facilitate gas-liquid separation. By changing the phase behavior and reducing fluid density through chemical action, the system enhances gas lift flow velocity while maintaining the pressure conditions needed for hydrocarbon recovery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 synergistic effect of nanoparticles and surfactants improves water injectivity, reduces pressure across the formation, and effectively removes deposits, thereby increasing hydrocarbon recovery and gas lift flow efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Surfactant chemical additives are used to lower interfacial tensions between the fluid and/or connate (subterranean water source) and the hydrocarbon (oil)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

Surfactant chemical additives are used to lower interfacial tensions between the fluid and/or connate (subterranean water source) and the hydrocarbon (oil) and also increase wettability of the subterranean formation rock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

Gas lift is achieved through use of intermittent or continuous gas lift by injecting high pressure gas into a well

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFoam: Foam

Data Source

PatentUS20260078295A1Synergistic effects of nanoparticles and surfactants for water injectivity improvement

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 CHAMPIONX LLC

AI summary

Compositions of nanoparticles and surfactants for improved water injectivity are disclosed. More specifically, synergistic combination of nanoparticles, including amine functionalized colloidal nanoparticles and surfactants, provides enhanced water injectivity and increased oil production. Methods of using are also disclosed.