Branched Polyhydroxyetheramine Fines Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fines migration in subterranean reservoirs, caused by the dislodgment of clay and mineral particles, reduces permeability and flow capacity, and existing treatments are limited to specific rock formations and do not effectively stabilize fines across various surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a water-soluble or dispersible branched polyhydroxyetheramine additive into the reservoir, which forms a coating on surfaces and fines, stabilizing them and preventing migration, thereby enhancing permeability to both aqueous fluids and hydrocarbons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing fines control treatments (cationic organic polymers, silanes) are used, then fines migration is controlled in sandstone formations, but the treatment is ineffective in carbonate, shale, and other non-sandstone formations due to lack of anionic sites for attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The polyhydroxyetheramine composition is designed to work universally across multiple rock formation types (sandstone, carbonate, shale, etc.) by forming protective films through adsorption on various surface types, not limited to anionic sites. This multi-functional approach allows the same composition to stabilize fines in diverse geological formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical mechanism from electrostatic attraction (requiring anionic sites) to adsorption-based protective film formation. This parameter change in the interaction mechanism enables the treatment to work on formations without traditional anionic sites, expanding applicability while maintaining fines control effectiveness.
2Reliability
If polyhydroxyetheramine composition is introduced to stabilize fines, then fines migration is prevented and permeability is maintained, but the composition must be maintained at sufficient temperature for adsorption to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment is applied during hydraulic fracturing operations when the formation is already at elevated temperatures. This preliminary action at high temperature ensures optimal adsorption occurs before the formation cools, locking in the protective film formation and fines stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the temperature phase condition to control the adsorption process. By timing the treatment application when thermal energy is sufficient to drive adsorption but before cooling occurs, the process leverages thermal phase conditions to achieve effective fines stabilization.
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 treatment significantly increases the critical flow rate required for fines migration, maintaining higher baseline permeability and improving oil and gas well productivity by preventing fines from blocking pore throats.
Implementation Method 1
optionally adsorbing the composition onto a surface of the porous subterranean reservoir
Implementation Method 2
which forms a coating on surfaces and fines, stabilizing them and preventing migration
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for reducing fines migration in a porous subterranean reservoir. In certain aspects, the methods include introducing a composition including a water-soluble or dispersible branched polyhydroxyetheramine into the porous subterranean reservoir, maintaining a sufficient temperature in the porous subterranean reservoir for a period of time, adsorbing the composition onto a surface of the porous subterranean reservoir, and stabilizing at least a portion of the fines present in the porous subterranean reservoir. A treatment composition can be used and in certain aspects, the treatment composition can be a reaction product of bisphenol A, an ethanol amine, diethanol amine, and a monofunctionalized polyoxyalkyleneamine.