Hydrophobic Quaternized Copolymers for Enhanced Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) polymers face solubility issues due to low water solubility of quaternized amine-functional monomers, which affects their viscosity, gel formation, and filtration properties, limiting their effectiveness in tertiary mineral oil production.
Innovation Solution
A process is developed to prepare a water-soluble copolymer by reacting a specific monomer with at least one monoethylenically unsaturated anionic monomer and a monoethylenically unsaturated non-ionic monomer in the presence of an additive, enhancing solubility and EOR properties, involving the use of hydrophobically associating copolymers with additives like sodium diisooctyl sulfosuccinate to improve solubility and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quaternized amine-functional monomers are used to enhance EOR properties, then oil recovery effectiveness is improved, but water solubility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is segmented into distinct functional blocks: hydrophobic quaternized amine segments for EOR effectiveness and hydrophilic polyacrylic acid segments for water solubility. This segmentation allows each segment to perform its specialized function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between EOR effectiveness and solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite copolymer material combining hydrophobic quaternized (meth)acrylamide units with hydrophilic (meth)acrylic acid units. This composite structure integrates the oil-interaction capabilities of hydrophobic groups with the water-solubilizing effects of carboxylic acid groups, simultaneously achieving both EOR effectiveness and adequate solubility.
2Reliability
If quaternized amine-functional monomers are used to improve EOR properties, then oil mobilization is enhanced, but viscosity and gel formation are compromised due to poor solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer architecture segments hydrophobic quaternized amine units responsible for oil mobilization from hydrophilic polyacrylic acid units that provide viscosity and gel-forming capabilities through hydrogen bonding and chain entanglement. This segmentation ensures that poor solubility of quaternized monomers does not compromise the viscosity-enhancing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite copolymer combines the oil-mobilizing hydrophobic quaternized amine groups with the viscosity-providing hydrophilic carboxylic acid groups. The hydrophilic segments form hydrated networks that maintain solution viscosity and gel structure, compensating for the solubility deficiencies of the hydrophobic EOR-active segments.
3Reliability
If quaternized amine-functional monomers are used for EOR applications, then oil recovery is improved, but filtration properties deteriorate due to solubility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer is divided into hydrophobic quaternized amine segments for oil recovery and hydrophilic polyacrylic acid segments that provide adequate water solubility. This segmentation ensures the polymer remains sufficiently soluble to pass through filtration systems while maintaining oil recovery effectiveness through the hydrophobic segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite copolymer structure integrates hydrophobic EOR-active quaternized amine groups with hydrophilic carboxylic acid groups that enhance water solubility. This composite nature allows the polymer to exhibit both oil-recovery enhancement and acceptable filtration properties by balancing hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics.
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 resulting copolymer exhibits improved solubility and EOR properties, enabling more efficient mineral oil recovery by forming a stable, thickening aqueous formulation that can be injected into oil deposits, enhancing oil mobilization and production.
Implementation Method 1
hydrophobically associating copolymers
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a water-soluble copolymer comprising the step of reacting a monomer (a) of formula (I), wherein Q1, Q2, R1 to R7 and X have the meaning as indicated in the description and claims with at least one monoethylenically unsaturated, anionic monomer (b), preferably representing a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising at least one carboxy, phosphonate or sulfonate group and salts thereof, preferably their ammonium salts or alkaline-earth metal salts or alkali metal salts; and at least one monoethylenically unsaturated, non-ionic monomer (c). The present invention further relates to a copolymer obtainable by said process and its use in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), a formulation comprising said copolymer and a method of oil production uses said formulation.