Reservoir Stimulation Foam Composition for High-Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foam fluids containing non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactants exhibit poor stability in high temperature and low pressure wells, leading to ineffective diversion and potential formation damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a microemulsion containing a terpene and a nonionic, amphoteric, or cationic surfactant into the foam fluid enhances stability by improving gelation and thermal resistance of the viscoelastic surfactant, forming long micelles that provide enhanced viscosity and elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactants are used to create foam fluids, then the foam can be formed without water-soluble polymers and crosslinking agents, but the foam exhibits poor stability in high temperature and low pressure wells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactants with microemulsions containing terpenes and nonionic surfactants to create a composite foam system. This composite approach leverages the gelation capability of viscoelastic surfactants while the microemulsion provides thermal and pressure stability, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the foam fluid by incorporating specific ratios of viscoelastic surfactants (0.1-10% wt), microemulsions (5-50% wt), and foaming gases. These parameter changes enable the foam to maintain stability under high temperature and low pressure conditions while preserving the simplicity of preparation.
2Strength
If crosslinking agents are added to water-soluble polymers to create viscous foam, then the foam viscosity increases, but crosslinking agents become ineffective in the presence of gaseous foaming agents resulting in substantial loss of foam viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the crosslinking agent component from the foam system and replaces it with non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactants that can form gels through micelle aggregation without requiring crosslinking chemistry. This eliminates the contradiction between achieving high viscosity and maintaining viscosity stability in the presence of gaseous foaming agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical crosslinking mechanism with a physical gelation mechanism based on surfactant micelle formation and aggregation. This substitution allows the foam to achieve and maintain viscosity through physical rather than chemical bonds, which are not disrupted by gaseous foaming agents.
3Productivity
If foam fluids are used to divert treatment fluid into less permeable areas, then flow resistance is reduced and flowback is improved, but foam stability deteriorates in high temperature and low pressure conditions leading to ineffective diversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite foam system where non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactants provide the diverting capability through gelation, while microemulsions containing terpenes and nonionic surfactants provide stability under high temperature and low pressure conditions. This composite structure enables both effective diversion and maintained stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The microemulsion acts as an intermediary stabilizing component that protects the viscoelastic surfactant foam from degradation under extreme conditions. The microemulsion molecules interfacially stabilize the foam structure, allowing the foam to maintain its diverting function in high temperature and low pressure environments.
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 microemulsion stabilizes the foam at higher temperatures and pressures, enabling effective diversion and clean-up of formations while improving flowback and coverage over zones with varying permeabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the microemulsion enhances the stability of the foam when the fluid is introduced into a high temperature and/or low pressure well... improving gelation and thermal resistance of the viscoelastic surfactant
Implementation Method 2
forming long micelles that provide enhanced viscosity and elasticity
Implementation Method 3
When pumped downhole, the fluid forms a highly stable foam... reduce flow resistance of produced fluids and thus provide improved flowback of hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 4
a non-polymeric viscoelastic surfactant... a microemulsion containing a terpene and a nonionic, amphoteric or cationic non-polymeric surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
The stability of foams containing a viscoelastic surfactant of an amine or amidoamine oxide and exhibiting thermal resistance at bottomhole temperatures greater than 300° F. may be enhanced by including in the foam a microemulsion containing a nonionic surfactant and a terpene.