Temperature-Sensitive Foaming Drainage for High-Salt Gas Wells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foaming drainage agents for high-temperature and high-salt gas reservoirs are costly and lack resistance to temperature, salt, and oil, with poor foaming and foam-stabilizing properties, leading to high defoaming difficulty and chemical costs.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-sensitive foaming drainage agent system comprising sulfonate anionic surfactants, amine oxide zwitterionic surfactants, and a temperature-sensitive gel, designed to stabilize foam at high well bottom temperatures and destabilize at wellhead temperatures, using a specific formulation and preparation method to enhance stability and reduce defoaming needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional foaming drainage agents are used in high-temperature and high-salt gas reservoirs, then the foaming and foam-stabilizing properties are poor, but the cost of chemicals increases and defoaming difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoaming and foam-stabilizing propertiesVSAvoiddefoaming difficulty and chemical cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses temperature-sensitive gel that changes its physical state based on temperature. At high downhole temperatures, the gel is in a sol state providing good foaming performance, while at low surface temperatures, it transitions to a gel state reducing foam stability. This temperature-dependent parameter change resolves the contradiction by automatically adapting foam properties to the thermal environment without additional chemicals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite foaming system combining temperature-sensitive gel with conventional foaming agents. This composite material leverages the temperature-responsive properties of the gel while maintaining the foaming capabilities of traditional agents, achieving both cost-effectiveness and reliable foaming performance in high-temperature reservoirs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If foam stability is enhanced at high temperature downhole, then gas well drainage effectiveness improves, but defoaming difficulty at the surface increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoam stability at high temperatureVSAvoiddefoaming ease at surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature-sensitive gel undergoes a phase transition from sol to gel state as temperature decreases from downhole to surface conditions. This parameter change automatically reduces foam stability at the surface, facilitating easier defoaming and separation operations while maintaining stable foam at high downhole temperatures for effective drainage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional foaming agents are used, then chemical cost increases, but resistance to temperature, salt and oil remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to temperature, salt and oilVSAvoidchemical cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature-sensitive gel provides self-regulating foam stability control based on temperature conditions. It automatically adjusts foam properties in response to the thermal environment, eliminating the need for expensive specialized chemicals while maintaining adequate resistance to temperature, salt, and oil through its intrinsic temperature-responsive behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system provides stable foaming at high temperatures with reduced defoaming difficulty and chemical consumption, maintaining effective foam stability and viscosity adjustment based on temperature changes, thus optimizing gas well drainage and recovery.

Implementation Method 1

1, 3 parts of temperature-sensitive material, wherein the temperature-sensitive material is temperature-sensitive gel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature-sensitive gel sol-gel transition: Gel

Implementation Method 2

With existing low-cost agents and a natural temperature gradient between the well bottom and the wellhead

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature gradient effect: Temperature Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the foaming agent includes sulfonate anionic surfactant A, sulfonate anionic surfactant B, and an amine oxide zwitterionic surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant action: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS20260035610A1Temperature-sensitive foaming drainage agent system for high-temperature and high-salt gas reservoirs, preparation method and application thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 SICHUAN RUIDONG TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to the technical field of oilfield chemistry, and in particular to a temperature-sensitive foaming drainage agent system for high-temperature and high-salt gas reservoirs, a preparation method and an application thereof. The temperature-sensitive foaming drainage agent system includes following components in parts by mass: 50-75 parts of foaming agent, 1-3 parts of temperature-sensitive material, 2-5 parts of bactericide and 500-800 parts of water; and the temperature-sensitive material is temperature-sensitive gel.