Nonionic Inversion Agents for High-TDS Reservoir Latices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water-in-oil latices face challenges inverting rapidly and stably in reservoirs with high total dissolved solids and extreme temperatures, leading to instability, coagulation, and reduced effectiveness in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of water-in-oil latices incorporating a nonionic inversion agent and a high HLB surfactant, which facilitates rapid and complete inversion when contacted with water sources having high temperatures and total dissolved solids, forming a stable polymer flooding solution for EOR applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional water-in-oil latices are used in reservoirs with high total dissolved solids and extreme temperatures, then the latices can be transported and stored easily, but the latices exhibit instability, coagulation, and slow inversion when contacted with reservoir water
Solution Approach 1:
A nonionic inversion agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the water-in-oil latex and the reservoir water. This inversion agent facilitates the inversion process by mediating the interaction between the latex droplets and the high-salinity reservoir water, enabling rapid and complete inversion without coagulation or instability even in challenging reservoir conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the latex formulation by incorporating a nonionic inversion agent with specific molecular structure and properties. This parameter change enables the latex to invert rapidly and completely when contacted with water sources having high temperatures and total dissolved solids, preventing equipment plugging and reservoir damage
2Device complexity
If the latex inversion is slow or incomplete, then the transportation and storage are simpler, but the polymer distribution and mobility control in the reservoir are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nonionic inversion agent serves as a mediator that accelerates the inversion process, enabling rapid and complete conversion of the water-in-oil latex to a polymer flooding solution. This ensures efficient polymer distribution and mobility control in the reservoir without requiring complex multi-step inversion procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The nonionic inversion agent is pre-incorporated into the latex formulation during manufacturing, so that the inversion capability is built-in beforehand. When the latex is contacted with reservoir water, the pre-positioned inversion agent immediately facilitates complete inversion, ensuring rapid polymer distribution and effective mobility control without delays
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
This solution enables rapid and complete inversion of water-in-oil latices under challenging conditions, preventing equipment plugging and reservoir damage, and ensuring efficient mobility control and polymer distribution within the reservoir, thus enhancing the EOR process.
Implementation Method 1
facilitates rapid and complete inversion when contacted with water sources having high temperatures and total dissolved solids
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a nonionic inversion agent and a high HLB surfactant
Implementation Method 3
ensuring efficient mobility control and polymer distribution within the reservoir
Data Source
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AI summary
Water-in-oil latices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The latices include nonionic inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the latices under conditions wherein the water source used to invert the latex is provided at high temperature, or includes a high level of total dissolved solids, or is both high temperature and high total dissolved solids.