High Solids Slurry Stability via Alkoxylated Fatty Amine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slurry compositions for oilfield applications face challenges with physical stability, particularly at high solids loadings, as they tend to settle, gel, or phase separate under varying temperature conditions, limiting their effectiveness and usability.
Innovation Solution
The development of a slurry composition incorporating an alkoxylated fatty amine, a solvent, and a suspension aid, which allows for high active ingredient loadings up to 75% by weight, maintaining pumpability and stability even under harsh conditions such as elevated temperatures and freeze/thaw cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the solids loading is increased to improve productivity, then the active ingredient content increases, but the slurry becomes unstable and settles over time
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer additive acts as an intermediary substance between the solid active ingredient particles and the liquid carrier. The polymer adsorbs onto particle surfaces and provides steric stabilization, preventing aggregation and settling while allowing high solids loading (40-75 wt%). This mediator enables the system to achieve both high productivity and stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the slurry system by introducing polymers with specific molecular weights, concentrations, and chemical structures. By optimizing polymer dosage and selecting appropriate polymer types (natural or synthetic), the system transitions from an unstable high-solids slurry to a stable, pumpable formulation maintaining high active ingredient content.
2Quantity of substance
If the solids loading is increased to reduce transportation volume, then the concentration of active ingredient increases, but the slurry viscosity increases and pumpability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer additive serves as a lubricating intermediary between solid particles, reducing inter-particle friction and preventing rigid network formation. This allows the slurry to maintain low viscosity and high flowability even at 40-75 wt% solids loading, ensuring easy pumping and application.
Solution Approach 2:
By adjusting polymer concentration and molecular weight parameters, the slurry's rheological properties are optimized. The system achieves a viscosity profile that remains pumpable across a wide range of temperatures and solids contents, transforming the relationship between solids loading and viscosity.
3Ease of operation
If emulsion formulations are used to improve pumpability, then the fluid remains fluid, but the emulsion is sensitive to temperature variations and gels in hot conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the temperature-sensitive emulsion system and replaces it with a temperature-resistant suspension system. By using non-ionic polymer stabilizers and avoiding temperature-sensitive components, the formulation eliminates the gelation problem while maintaining pumpability across wide temperature ranges from freezing to high summer temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical composition parameters are changed to eliminate temperature-sensitive components. The use of robust polymer stabilizers with high thermal stability and appropriate pH buffers transforms the formulation's thermal response, preventing gelation and maintaining consistent rheological properties under varying temperature conditions.
4Stability of the object's composition
If dry powder formulations are used to improve stability, then the material is stable, but special handling equipment is required for hydration
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the stability advantages of dry powders with the ease of use of liquid formulations by creating a pre-formulated slurry system. The active ingredient is pre-dispersed in a stable liquid medium with polymer stabilizers, combining the benefits of both approaches: long-term stability without requiring specialized hydration equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer-stabilized liquid medium acts as an intermediary that maintains stability without requiring dry storage conditions. This intermediate state allows the formulation to be stored and handled as a fluid while maintaining the stability characteristics of dry systems, eliminating the need for complex handling equipment.
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 slurry composition remains pumpable and stable for extended periods, resisting gelation and phase separation, enabling efficient use in diverse industrial applications including oilfield services, paper coating, and water treatment.
Implementation Method 1
alkoxylated fatty amines enable slurry compositions to be formulated with an uncharacteristically high content of deliverable solids
Implementation Method 2
a suspension aid
Data Source
AI summary
A slurry composition that includes (A) a solvent, (B) a suspension aid, (D) an alkoxylated fatty amine, (E) an active ingredient, and optionally (C) a polar activator. The slurry composition may be formulated with up to 75 wt. % of the active ingredient (E), based on a total weight of the slurry composition, and remain as a pumpable and stable suspension. A concentrated slurry base is also disclosed which includes the solvent (A), the suspension aid (B), the polar activator (C), and the alkoxylated fatty amine (D), all being present at a higher concentration in the concentrated slurry base than a slurry composition made therefrom. A method of treating a subterranean formation is also disclosed, whereby the slurry composition is mixed with an aqueous fluid to form a treatment fluid, and the treatment fluid is introduced through a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation.