Nanoparticle Water Flow Control in Subterranean Formations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for shutting off water production in subterranean oil wells are inefficient, often requiring multiple stages, are not compatible with formation waters, and fail to selectively inhibit water flow while allowing hydrocarbon flow, leading to increased costs and operational challenges, especially in deepwater drilling and thermal recovery operations.
Innovation Solution
A non-aqueous treating slurry containing nanoparticles with a mean particle size between 4 to 2000 nanometers, such as alkaline earth metal oxides, is injected into subterranean formations to solidify and block water channels while allowing hydrocarbon flow, using a carrier fluid like mineral oil or glycol, ensuring deep penetration and effective water control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional water shut-off chemicals (sodium silicate solutions) are used, then water flow can be inhibited, but the chemicals are not compatible with formation waters and require multiple staged treatments with inert aqueous spacer liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful aqueous component from the treatment system by using a non-aqueous carrier fluid instead of traditional aqueous-based chemicals. This eliminates the incompatibility with formation waters and removes the need for inert aqueous spacer liquids, simplifying the pumping schedule while maintaining water shut-off effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the carrier fluid from aqueous to non-aqueous basis. This parameter change enables direct injection into formation waters without chemical incompatibility issues, eliminating the need for complex multi-stage pumping schedules with spacer liquids
2Reliability
If crosslinked polymer technology is used to shut off water flow, then water production can be inhibited, but separate crosslinkers and linear polymer fluids must be injected in multi-stage pumping with inert spacer liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the treatment functions into a single non-aqueous slurry composition that can be injected in one stage. The nanoparticles suspended in non-aqueous carrier fluid provide both the treatment agent and carrier in a unified system, eliminating the need for separate crosslinker and polymer fluid injections with spacer liquids
3Reliability
If delayed crosslinking method is used, then water shut-off can be achieved, but the method depends on formation temperature and fluid traveling time which complicates the treatment process
Solution Approach 1:
The non-aqueous slurry composition is designed to be self-sufficient upon injection, eliminating the need for temperature-dependent delayed crosslinking mechanisms. The composition works immediately upon contact with formation water, making the treatment process independent of formation temperature variations and fluid traveling time
4Reliability
If traditional gel-based water shut-off is used, then water channels can be plugged, but uniform gels cannot be generated and deep penetration into the formation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the treatment medium from viscous gel to free-flowing non-aqueous slurry. This parameter change enables deep penetration into the formation before the nanoparticles activate and solidify upon contact with formation water, achieving both deep penetration and effective water channel plugging
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 method effectively inhibits water flow while maintaining hydrocarbon flow, improving hydrocarbon recovery efficiency, reducing operational costs, and addressing shallow water flow hazards in deepwater drilling and enhancing sweep efficiency during secondary and tertiary recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the water with the treating slurry to solidify the nanoparticles within the subterranean formation
Data Source
AI summary
Non-aqueous carrier fluids containing nano-sized particles in high concentration are effective for zone isolation and flow control in water shutoff applications for subterranean formations. The nanoparticles interact with water and solidify it to inhibit its flow, but do not have the same effect on hydrocarbons and thus selectively assist the production of hydrocarbons while suppressing water. Suitable nanoparticles include alkaline earth metal oxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, transition metal oxides, transition metal hydroxides, post-transition metal oxides, post-transition metal hydroxides, piezoelectric crystals, and/or pyroelectric crystals.