Polyamine Polyether Dewatering Agent for Oil Emulsion Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of demulsifiers used in well treatment fluids for hydraulic fracturing operations and their limited ability to rapidly and comprehensively separate water and oil emulsions, which can reduce production by leaving residual water in the oil phase and causing water blockage in reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A well treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a dewatering agent that includes a demulsifying surfactant and a polyamine polyether, which enhances the demulsifying power to achieve rapid and complete separation of water and oil emulsions, reducing the cost of the dewatering agent compared to current market demulsifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional demulsifiers are used in well treatment fluids, then emulsion separation can be achieved, but the cost is too high and the separation is not rapid or complete enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polyamine polyether with traditional demulsifiers to create a composite dewatering agent system. This composite approach leverages the synergistic effects between the polyamine polyether (which reduces interfacial tension and promotes coalescence) and the demulsifier (which breaks the emulsion structure), achieving more effective and complete separation while allowing for optimized dosing rates that reduce overall chemical costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the dewatering agent by incorporating polyamine polyether, which changes the interfacial tension characteristics and promotes faster phase separation. This parameter change enables more rapid demulsification and reduces the residual water content in the oil phase, improving separation effectiveness while the optimized formulation reduces chemical costs.
2Reliability
If conventional demulsifiers are used, then some emulsion separation occurs, but residual water remains in the oil phase causing water blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The polyamine polyether acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the separation process by adsorbing at the oil-water interface, reducing interfacial tension, and promoting the coalescence of water droplets. This intermediary action enables more complete separation and reduces residual water content in the oil phase, preventing water blockage in the reservoir.
Solution Approach 2:
The addition of polyamine polyether changes the interfacial tension parameter and the coalescence kinetics of water droplets. These parameter changes promote more effective water droplet aggregation and separation, reducing residual water content in the oil phase and minimizing water blockage effects in the reservoir.
3Reliability
If higher concentrations of demulsifier are used to improve separation, then separation effectiveness increases, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The polyamine polyether component contributes to the demulsification process by naturally reducing interfacial tension and promoting water droplet coalescence through its chemical structure. This self-service capability of the polyamine polyether reduces the burden on the demulsifier component, allowing for lower demulsifier concentrations while maintaining effective separation performance, thus reducing overall chemical costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite dewatering agent system distributes the demulsification function between the polyamine polyether and the demulsifier, allowing for optimized dosing rates. The polyamine polyether handles the interfacial tension reduction and initial coalescence, while the demulsifier completes the separation process, enabling effective demulsification at lower overall chemical concentrations and reduced costs.
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 dewatering agent effectively separates water and oil phases, leaving no residual water in the oil phase and improving flow-back capabilities by reducing capillary pressure and water blockage, thereby enhancing hydrocarbon production and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
Demulsifiers, also known as emulsion breakers, are a class of specialty surfactants used to separate oil-in-water emulsions and water-in-oil emulsions into separate oil and water phases
Implementation Method 2
The dewatering agent includes water, a demulsifying surfactant, and a polyamine polyether
Implementation Method 3
improving flow-back capabilities by reducing capillary pressure and water blockage
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating a well, comprising introducing a well treatment fluid into the well. The well treatment fluid includes an aqueous base fluid and a dewatering agent. The dewatering agent includes water, a demulsifying surfactant, and a polyamine polyether.