Polymer Sampling Stabilization via Nitrogen Inert Atmosphere
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sampling methods for aqueous polymer solutions in enhanced oil recovery fail to maintain polymer integrity, leading to chemical, biological, and mechanical degradation, especially when exposed to oxygen, which affects viscosity measurements and the accuracy of polymer quality analysis.
Innovation Solution
A sampling procedure and device that incorporate a stabilizing solution with deoxygenating, free radical scavenging, and complexing agents to protect the polymer from degradation, allowing for hermetically sealed sampling and analysis under ambient conditions, maintaining viscosity stability for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If samples are exposed to open air for collection and analysis, then sampling and analysis can be performed under ambient conditions, but the polymer is rapidly degraded by oxygen leading to inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by filling the sampling container with nitrogen gas to create an oxygen-free environment. This prevents polymer degradation during sampling and storage while allowing analysis under controlled ambient conditions. The nitrogen atmosphere eliminates the harmful oxidation reactions that would otherwise occur with air exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by sparging the polymer solution with nitrogen gas before sampling to remove dissolved oxygen. This pre-treatment step eliminates oxygen from the solution in advance, preventing degradation during subsequent sampling and analysis operations without requiring continuous inert atmosphere maintenance.
2Reliability
If stabilizing agents are added to prevent polymer degradation, then polymer integrity is maintained during sampling, but the composition of the sample is altered affecting analysis accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nitrogen inert atmosphere instead of chemical stabilizing agents. This physical protection method maintains polymer integrity without introducing foreign substances that would alter sample composition or interfere with viscosity measurements and other analytical determinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical stabilization mechanisms with physical protection through nitrogen atmosphere. This substitution eliminates the need for chemical additives that could interfere with measurements, using instead a physical environment control approach that preserves both polymer integrity and measurement accuracy.
3Reliability
If hermetically sealed sampling is implemented to prevent oxygen contact, then polymer degradation is prevented, but sampling device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nitrogen inert atmosphere within the sampling container to prevent oxygen contact without requiring complex hermetic sealing systems. The nitrogen headspace provides a simple, effective barrier that prevents degradation while maintaining ease of sampling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts oxygen from the sampling environment by replacing air with nitrogen gas. This removal of the harmful component (oxygen) simplifies the system design compared to implementing complex exclusion mechanisms, as it directly eliminates the degradation cause rather than attempting to block it.
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 effectively prevents polymer degradation during sampling and analysis, ensuring accurate viscosity measurements and polymer quality assessment, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization of enhanced oil recovery processes.
Implementation Method 1
The stabilizing solution contains free radical scavengers
Implementation Method 2
The stabilizing solution contains deoxygenating agents
Implementation Method 3
The stabilizing solution contains complexing agents
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention concerns a sampling procedure for an aqueous hydrosoluble polymer solution flowing in a main circuit, enabling a sample to be collected to undergo at least one analysis under ambient air giving at least one property of the hydrosoluble polymer characterised in that a stabilizing solution is added to the aqueous hydrosoluble polymer solution, according to a discontinuous addition method, before or after sampling from the main circuit, so as to obtain a sample comprising a mixture of aqueous hydrosoluble polymer solution and stabilizing solution in which the hydrosoluble polymer is protected against attacks it may undergo in an atmosphere containing at least 10% by volume of oxygen.