Nanosheet Polymer Composite Hydrogel for Water Shutoff
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges with water production in hydrocarbon wells, leading to increased handling and recovery costs, scale formation, corrosion, and potential formation failure, due to the lack of chemically and thermally stable solutions for water shutoff treatments.
Innovation Solution
A nanosheet-based polymer composite hydrogel is developed by dispersing nanosheets like zirconium hydroxide, zirconium oxide, graphene oxide, or hexagonal boron nitride within a polymer matrix, which is then injected into water-producing fractures to form a barrier, reducing unwanted water production while maintaining hydrocarbon extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If polymer-based products are used for water shutoff, then water production is reduced, but chemical and thermal stability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polymer matrices with nanosheet fillers (such as graphene oxide, zirconium hydroxide, or hexagonal boron nitride) to create composite hydrogels. This composite structure provides both the water shutoff capability of the polymer and the enhanced thermal/chemical stability of the nanosheets, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer by incorporating nanosheet fillers at specific concentrations (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter change enhances the thermal stability and chemical resistance of the polymer while maintaining its water shutoff functionality, addressing the stability deficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If produced water is treated to meet regulations, then environmental pollution is prevented, but handling and recovery costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies water shutoff treatment in advance to prevent produced water from reaching the wellbore. By blocking water flow paths proactively, the treatment eliminates the need for subsequent handling, processing, and disposal operations, thereby preventing environmental pollution while avoiding the associated costs and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts or removes produced water from the system by blocking its flow path at the source. This prevents the water from entering the production stream, eliminating the need for downstream treatment facilities and reducing both environmental risk and operational costs.
3Productivity
If mechanical isolation is used for water shutoff, then water production is reduced, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical isolation devices (such as plugs, packers, or valves) with a chemical hydrogel material that self-assembles to block water flow. The hydrogel is injected in liquid form and then gels in situ, providing mechanical isolation functionality without requiring complex mechanical structures or complex installation procedures.
4Productivity
If polymer composite hydrogel is injected into fractures, then water production is reduced, but formation damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the physical and chemical parameters of the hydrogel, including particle size (0.1-10 micrometers), concentration (0.1-10 wt%), and crosslinking density, to ensure the material can be injected through fractures without causing damage. The nanosheet-reinforced composite structure provides adequate mechanical strength to prevent formation damage while maintaining injectability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the porous structure of the hydrogel and its ability to adapt to fracture geometries. The hydrogel can penetrate into fractures and then gel to form a plug that conforms to the fracture shape, providing effective blockage without requiring high injection pressures that could damage the formation.
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 polymer composite hydrogel effectively reduces water production, enhances thermal and mechanical stability, and lowers extraction costs by forming a durable barrier within the subterranean formation, thereby improving hydrocarbon recovery and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
adding a polymerization initiator comprising a persulfate to the emulsion to initiate a polymerization reaction of the monomer to form a polymer composite precursor solution
Implementation Method 2
dispersing a nanosheet filler within a polymer matrix by dissolving a monomer in water to form a first solution, dispersing the nanosheet filler in an organic solvent in the presence of an emulsifying agent to form a second solution, combining the first solution and the second solution to form an emulsion
Implementation Method 3
adding a polymerization initiator comprising a persulfate to the emulsion to initiate a polymerization reaction of the monomer to form a polymer composite precursor solution
Implementation Method 4
heating the hydrogel precursor solution to 150 to 175° C. for at least 8 hours to gel the hydrogel precursor solution and form the polymer composite hydrogel
Data Source
AI summary
A method of preparing a polymer composite includes dispersing a nanosheet filler within a polymer matrix by dissolving a monomer in water to form a first solution, dispersing the nanosheet filler in an organic solvent in the presence of an emulsifying agent to form a second solution, combining the first solution and the second solution, and adding a polymerization initiator to initiate a polymerization reaction of the monomer to form a polymer composite precursor comprising the nanosheet filler dispersed in the polymer matrix. The method further includes quenching the polymerization reaction and then filtering, washing, grinding, and drying the polymer composite precursor to form the polymer composite. A method of preparing a polymer composite hydrogel for water shutoff applications and the associated method of forming a barrier to shut off or reduce unwanted production of water in a subterranean formation utilizing the polymer composite hydrogel is also provided.