PEGMA-Acrylamide Copolymers for Water Clarification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water clarifiers used in oil and gas production, such as halogenated polycondensates and poly(meth)acrylamide/poly(meth)acrylate polymers, suffer from stability issues, corrosion problems, and gel formation, making them less effective and more corrosive in storage and transfer lines.
Innovation Solution
Development of copolymers comprising poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) or similar monomers with acrylamide and (3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride, which are more stable, less corrosive, and effective in clarifying aqueous phases by removing hydrocarbon phases without forming gels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If halogenated polycondensate or poly(meth)acrylamide/poly(meth)acrylate polymers are used as water clarifiers, then water clarification effectiveness is improved, but corrosion problems and gel formation occur in storage tanks and transfer lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the water clarifier by using copolymers of acrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate instead of halogenated polycondensates or poly(meth)acrylamide/poly(meth)acrylate polymers. This parameter change eliminates halogen content and adjusts the molecular structure to prevent gel formation while maintaining water clarification effectiveness, thereby resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and corrosion/gel problems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite polymer structures by creating copolymers that combine acrylamide units with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate units. This composite material approach allows the polymer to maintain effective water clarification properties while simultaneously avoiding the corrosion and gel formation issues associated with conventional single-component or differently-composed polymers
2Reliability
If polyDADMAC is used as a water clarifier, then coagulation and floc formation are improved, but high molecular weight compounds adsorb onto particle surfaces requiring interparticle bridging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential coagulation function from the complex polyDADMAC mechanism by using copolymers of acrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate that achieve water clarification through a simpler mechanism. The new copolymers remove oil droplets directly from the water phase without requiring the same interparticle bridging process, thereby simplifying the operational mechanism while maintaining effectiveness
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 copolymers efficiently clarify water and dehydrate oil phases, reducing basic sediment and water content, while being halogen-free and less corrosive, thus improving the stability and safety of the clarification process.
Implementation Method 1
the high molecular weight compounds adsorb onto particle surfaces and through interparticle bridging coalesce with other particles to form floc
Implementation Method 2
the high molecular weight compounds adsorb onto particle surfaces and through interparticle bridging coalesce with other particles to form floc
Data Source
AI summary
A copolymer useful as a water clarifier for a water phase of a production fluid is selected from those with a first monomer and a second monomer, and in one non-limiting embodiment having the general formula:wherein y is 10 to 50,000; z is 1 to 10,000 and n is 1 to 250. The copolymer may optionally include a third monomer. In an optional embodiment of the process, the fluid has a hydrocarbon phase, and the process further involves simultaneously drying the hydrocarbon phase of the fluid along with clarifying the water phase.