Poly(alkyl)acrylate Stabilized Polymer Compositions for EOR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polymer flooding methods for enhanced oil recovery face challenges such as time-consuming on-site dissolution of dry powder polymers, significant space requirements, and stability issues with inverse emulsions and liquid polymer compositions, which can lead to sedimentation and caking, affecting filter ratio and overall polymer concentration.
Innovation Solution
A liquid polymer or inverse emulsion composition comprising hydrophobic liquids, acrylamide-(co)polymers, emulsifier surfactants, inverting surfactants, and poly(alkyl)acrylate compounds, which provides enhanced stability and rapid dissolution in aqueous solutions, maintaining a low filter ratio and preventing sedimentation and caking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional dry powder polymer dissolution is used, then polymer concentration can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and requires significant space and equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the polymer from dry powder to liquid pre-diluted composition, and changes the dispersion medium from water to hydrophobic liquid. This parameter change enables the polymer to be ready-to-use without time-consuming dissolution, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving polymer concentration and reducing dissolution time
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer is pre-diluted to a specific concentration (0.5-5.0 wt%) and pre-dispersed in hydrophobic liquid before use. This preliminary action of preparing the polymer composition in advance eliminates the need for on-site dissolution, thereby reducing both time and space requirements while maintaining the required polymer concentration
2Loss of time
If inverse emulsion or liquid polymer composition is used, then dissolution time is reduced, but stability deteriorates leading to sedimentation and caking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces hydrophobic liquid as an intermediary medium that stabilizes the polymer composition. This hydrophobic liquid prevents direct contact between polymer particles and water, thereby preventing sedimentation and caking while still allowing rapid dissolution when water is added. The hydrophobic liquid acts as a protective intermediary that maintains stability during storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining polymer, hydrophobic liquid, and surfactant in specific proportions. This composite material structure provides both rapid dissolution capability and long-term stability, resolving the contradiction between reduced dissolution time and maintained composition stability
3Productivity
If polymer concentration is increased, then oil recovery efficiency improves, but filter ratio increases causing formation plugging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dispersion medium parameter from water to hydrophobic liquid, which fundamentally alters the polymer's interaction with formation rocks and filters. This parameter change allows achieving higher polymer concentrations (0.5-5.0 wt%) without increasing filter ratio, thereby improving oil recovery efficiency while maintaining reliable injectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses different hydrophobic liquids with specific properties (boiling point ≥100°C, water insolubility) tailored for specific application requirements. This local quality approach allows optimizing the polymer composition for both high concentration and low filter ratio by selecting appropriate hydrophobic liquids and surfactants
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 composition ensures rapid and complete dissolution of polymers in less than 5 minutes, maintains stability over time, and achieves improved injectivity with a filter ratio of 1.5 or less, reducing formation plugging and enhancing oil recovery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The compositions comprise one or more stabilizing agents, or poly(alkyl)acrylate compounds, which may prevent or minimize sedimentation and/or caking of solids in the liquid polymer or inverse emulsion compositions
Implementation Method 2
one or more emulsifier surfactants; one or more inverting surfactants
Implementation Method 3
one or more emulsifier surfactants; one or more inverting surfactants
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid polymer and inverse emulsion compositions comprising: one or more hydrophobic liquids having a boiling point at least about 100° C.; one or more acrylamide-(co)polymers; one or more emulsifier surfactants; one or more inverting surfactants; and one or more poly(alkyl)acrylate compounds. When the composition is inverted in an aqueous solution, it provides an inverted solution having a filter ratio using a 1.2 micron filter (FR1.2) of about 1.5 or less.