Polyphasic Polymer Suspension for Enhanced Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enhanced oil recovery methods face challenges with complex multiphase flows and propagation issues due to oil droplets in injection fluids, leading to reduced permeability and increased complexity in subterranean formations, while existing polymer forms require extensive preparation, heavy equipment, and pose safety and compatibility problems.
Innovation Solution
A particulate multiphase suspension is developed, comprising 15-60% water-soluble polymer in solid particle form, 15-45% alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt, and at least 10% water, with a Brookfield viscosity of 500-20,000 cps and density of 1.1-2 kg/l, eliminating the need for solvents and surfactants to simplify preparation and minimize equipment requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If inverse emulsions or LDPs are used to deliver polymer in concentrated form, then polymer concentration and mobility control are improved, but oil droplets in the injection fluid cause propagation issues and reduce permeability in subterranean formations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful oil phase and surfactant components from the polymer delivery system. Instead of using inverse emulsions (water-in-oil) or LDPs that contain oil droplets, the patent employs direct aqueous emulsions where polymer particles are suspended in water without requiring an oil continuous phase. This extraction of the harmful oil component eliminates propagation issues while maintaining high polymer concentration (10-60% by weight).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the emulsion type from inverse (water-in-oil) to direct (oil-in-water or water-based). By transforming the continuous phase from oil to water, the system maintains polymer concentration and viscosity benefits while eliminating the harmful effects of oil droplet propagation in subterranean formations. The polymer particles remain dispersed but now in a water-compatible medium.
2Ease of operation
If powder polymer is dissolved in water to prepare injection fluid, then polymer solution can be injected, but extensive preparation time and heavy equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-suspending the polymer in the desired aqueous medium during the polymerization process itself. The polymer is produced directly as suspended particles in water (aqueous emulsion form) rather than as powder requiring subsequent dissolution. This preliminary preparation of the polymer in its final delivery form eliminates the time-consuming dissolution step and reduces equipment requirements at the injection site.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a simpler, more disposable-ready formulation by using aqueous emulsions that can be directly pumped without complex preparation infrastructure. The polymer suspension is designed to be stable and ready-to-use, replacing the need for heavy dissolution equipment, large mixing vessels, and extensive preparation facilities required for powder polymer processing.
3Productivity
If high polymer concentration is used to improve mobility control, then viscosity increases and oil recovery improves, but the injection fluid becomes too viscous to handle and inject
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a colloidal suspension system where polymer particles are dispersed as fine solid particles or stabilized droplets in aqueous medium. This particle-based approach allows high polymer concentration (10-60% by weight) without the excessive viscosity that would result from fully dissolved polymer at equivalent concentrations. The suspended particle structure provides flexibility in viscosity control while maintaining high active polymer content for effective mobility control and oil recovery.
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 suspension enables efficient and stable enhanced oil recovery with improved mobility control and reduced preparation time, minimizing equipment needs and propagation issues, while maintaining high polymer concentration and viscosity, thus optimizing oil recovery without causing formation damage.
Implementation Method 1
The expected and proven benefits of the use of polymers, through the 'viscosification' of the injected water, are the improvement of sweeping and the reduction of the viscosity contrast between the fluids to control their mobility ratio in the field
Implementation Method 2
aqueous particulate multiphase suspension comprising: 15 to 60% by weight of at least one water-soluble polymer in the form of a solid particle with an average size of between 5 and 500 μm
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aqueous multiphase particulate suspension comprising a water-soluble polymer and to an enhanced oil recovery method using said suspension. The invention further relates to the use of the multiphase suspension in a drilling, hydraulic fracturing and mining effluent treatment operation.