Phosphorus Inversion Agents for Water-in-Oil Latex Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current water-in-oil lattices face challenges in rapidly inverting and forming stable polymer solutions when diluted with high total dissolved solids or extreme temperature water sources, leading to instability, coagulation, and equipment plugging, which hinders effective polymer flooding in enhanced oil recovery processes.

Innovation Solution

The development of water-in-oil lattices incorporating a phosphorus functional inversion agent and a high HLB surfactant, which facilitates rapid and complete inversion even in conditions with high temperature and high total dissolved solids, forming a stable polymer flooding solution suitable for use in enhanced oil recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional water-in-oil lattices are diluted with high total dissolved solids or extreme temperature water sources, then inversion occurs, but the lattice becomes unstable and forms coagulation leading to equipment plugging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinversion processVSAvoidlattice stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A phosphorus functional inversion agent is introduced as an intermediary substance to mediate the inversion process. This agent facilitates the transition from water-in-oil lattice to inverted state while maintaining stability even in the presence of high total dissolved solids or extreme temperatures, preventing coagulation and equipment plugging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the chemical composition parameters of the lattice by incorporating phosphorus functional inversion agent. This parameter change enables the lattice to maintain stability across a wider range of operating conditions, including high total dissolved solids and extreme temperatures, without undergoing harmful coagulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If water-in-oil lattices are designed for stability, then they resist inversion, but rapid inversion is needed for effective polymer flooding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinversion speedVSAvoidlattice stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The lattice system is designed with dynamic properties through the phosphorus functional inversion agent, which allows the lattice to transition from a stable state to a rapidly inverting state when needed. The agent creates a controlled instability that enables fast inversion while maintaining overall system stability during storage and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If conventional lattices invert rapidly, then they form unstable solutions with high total dissolved solids water sources, but stable polymer solutions are required for effective enhanced oil recovery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinversion speedVSAvoidpolymer solution stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The phosphorus functional inversion agent serves as a mediator that enables rapid inversion while simultaneously ensuring the stability of the resulting polymer solution, even when diluted with high total dissolved solids water sources. It bridges the contradiction between speed and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite system combining the phosphorus functional inversion agent with the polymer lattice structure. This composite material exhibits both rapid inversion capability and enhanced stability in challenging water conditions, properties that neither component would possess alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution enables rapid and complete inversion of water-in-oil lattices, preventing instability and equipment plugging, thus ensuring efficient polymer flooding and improved reservoir permeability, even with challenging water sources, reducing downtime and operational issues.

Implementation Method 1

Inversion is a term of art to describe the dilution of w/o lattices with a water source, causing destabilization of the latex and subsequent dissolution of the concentrated polymer particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInversion:

Implementation Method 2

a higher HLB surfactant (HLB>10) or a blend thereof having an HLB>10 is often added to facilitate latex inversion when water is added

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

the inversion agent is a phosphorus functional compound that increases the solubility of a hydrophobic material in water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrotrope effect:

Data Source

PatentUS10703961B2Phosphorus functional inversion agents for water-in-oil latices and methods of use

Publication Date: 2020.07.07 CHAMPIONX LLC

AI summary

Water-in-oil lattices of water soluble or dispersible polymers and methods of using the same are presented. The lattices include phosphorus functional inversion agents that provide rapid and complete inversion of the lattices 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.