Relative Permeability Modifier Package for High-Temperature Water Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing relative permeability modifiers are ineffective in high permeability and high-temperature formations, leading to increased water production, which necessitates the development of a combination of surfactants and polymers to reduce aqueous fluid permeability effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fluid containing a surfactant and a polymer package is introduced into the subterranean formation to coat its surfaces, reducing permeability by enhancing hydrophobicity, thereby limiting water production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional relative permeability modifiers (single polymer or surfactant) are used in high permeability formations, then the treatment is simple, but the effectiveness is insufficient to reduce water production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple relative permeability modifiers (surfactants and polymers) into a single treatment package that is introduced together into the formation. This merging approach allows the different components to work synergistically - the surfactant component addresses high-temperature stability while the polymer component addresses permeability reduction - thereby achieving reliable water production control in high permeability formations that cannot be achieved by single modifiers alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite relative permeability modifier package consisting of multiple chemical components (surfactants and polymers) with different functional properties. This composite approach leverages the complementary characteristics of each component to achieve comprehensive performance in challenging high permeability, high-temperature formations, where individual materials fall short of the required effectiveness.
2Reliability
If polymers are used to reduce permeability in high permeability formations, then water production is limited, but the polymers become less effective as formation permeability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different components of the modifier package. The surfactant component specifically targets high-temperature stability and surface activity, while the polymer component specifically targets permeability reduction through adsorption and pore blocking. This division of functional responsibilities allows each component to optimize its performance for its specific function, thereby maintaining high adaptability to high permeability formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical and physical parameters of the treatment system by combining multiple modifiers with different molecular weights, charges, and chemical structures. This parameter diversity enables the treatment to effectively adapt to high permeability formations where single-component treatments fail, as the combined package can address the specific challenges of high permeability through the synergistic interaction of multiple components.
3Reliability
If surfactants are used in high-temperature formations, then water production is controlled, but surfactants become less effective at temperatures above 200°F
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges surfactant-based relative permeability modifiers with polymer-based modifiers in a single treatment package. The surfactant component provides initial water production control through surface activity, while the polymer component compensates for temperature limitations by providing thermal stability and sustained permeability reduction through adsorption and pore blocking mechanisms. This combination ensures reliable water production control across a wide temperature range including high-temperature formations above 200°F.
4Reliability
If the relative permeability modifier package reduces aqueous fluid permeability by up to 95%, then water production is effectively managed, but the treatment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the relative permeability modifier package into distinct functional components (surfactants and polymers) with specific roles. The surfactant segment handles surface activity and initial water production control, while the polymer segment handles permeability reduction through adsorption and pore blocking. This segmentation allows for optimized performance in achieving up to 95% aqueous fluid permeability reduction while maintaining manageable treatment complexity through clear functional differentiation.
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 combination of surfactants and polymers significantly reduces aqueous fluid permeability by up to 95%, effectively managing water production even in high-temperature and high-permeability formations.
Implementation Method 1
The relative permeability modifiers can adsorb onto the surfaces of substances, such as rocks including sandstone and minerals, making up the formation thereby rendering the surfaces hydrophobic. Hydrophobic materials repel water
Implementation Method 2
The relative permeability modifiers can adsorb onto the surfaces of substances, such as rocks including sandstone and minerals, making up the formation
Data Source
AI summary
A reservoir fluid can be produced from a subterranean formation. The reservoir fluid can include water and hydrocarbons such as oil. It is oftentimes desirable to limit the amount of water that is produced, so a higher ratio of hydrocarbons can be produced. Portions of the subterranean formation can have an initial permeability to water. A relative permeability modifier (RPM) package including a surfactant and a polymer can be used in these portions to restrict or prevent water from being produced. The relative permeability modifier package can increase the hydrophobicity of the portion that allows the hydrocarbons to flow through while substantially limiting the amount of water. The relative permeability modifier can coat the surfaces of substances in the formation whereby the permeability to an aqueous fluid is reduced from the initial permeability. The formation can be a high-temperature formation of 230° F. (110.0° C.) or greater.