Peroxide Viscosity Breaker for Polyacrylamide Friction Reducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polyacrylamide friction reducers used in slickwater fracturing persist in formations, causing permeability issues, hindering water recovery, and complicating disposal, as existing solutions fail to effectively break down their viscosity post-treatment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, or zinc peroxide as viscosity breakers in well treating fluids to reduce polyacrylamide viscosity to that of water, without interfering with friction reduction properties, using loadings as low as 0.002% by weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If polyacrylamide friction reducers are used in slickwater fracturing, then pumping pressure is reduced by lowering frictional drag, but the polymer persists in the formation causing permeability plugging and complicating water disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful persistence property of polyacrylamide by introducing peroxide agents that selectively break down the polymer chains after they have served their friction reduction purpose. The peroxide oxidizes the polyacrylamide molecules, extracting the harmful persistence while maintaining the beneficial low-friction operation during the fracturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the peroxide viscosity breaker into the well treatment fluid before injection, but designing it to remain dormant during the fracturing operation and only activate afterward to degrade the polymer. This allows the polyacrylamide to perform its friction reduction function first, then be broken down subsequently without interfering with the primary treatment objective.
2Productivity
If polyacrylamide is used to reduce frictional drag, then water pumping efficiency improves, but polymer residue hinders water recovery and supports bacterial growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful persistence of polyacrylamide into a beneficial temporary state by using peroxide to selectively degrade the polymer after it has fulfilled its friction reduction mission. The polymer's persistence becomes beneficial during pumping (maintaining fluid structure) but is then converted to harmlessness through controlled oxidation, improving water recovery while eliminating bacterial food sources.
3Stability of the object's composition
If existing viscosity breakers like organic peroxides or esters are used, then polymer breakdown is achieved, but they require additional reducing agents or crosslinkers and complex formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex multi-component systems by selecting peroxide agents that can independently break down polyacrylamide without requiring supplemental reducing agents or crosslinkers. This simplifies the formulation from complex multi-chemical systems to a straightforward peroxide-based solution, reducing formulation complexity while maintaining effective polymer degradation.
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
Effectively degrades polyacrylamide viscosity to that of water within a few hours at room temperature, facilitating easier disposal and reducing bacterial growth, without affecting friction reduction performance.
Implementation Method 1
The viscosity breaker is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and zinc peroxide
Data Source
AI summary
A well treating fluid useful in slickwater fracturing processes contains polyacrylamide friction reducer and a viscosity breaker capable of reducing the viscosity of the well treating fluid to about the viscosity of water at ambient temperatures of typical underground formations. The viscosity breaker is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, magnesium peroxide, and zinc peroxide and is present in an amount above about 0.002% by weight.