Viscoelastic Surfactant Cleaning Composition for Oil Well Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cleaning compositions using polymeric thickening agents degrade under mechanical shear or chemical scission, leading to reduced viscosity and cleaning effectiveness, and can leave undesirable residues and dilute active cleaning agents, hindering effective cleaning and oily soil removal.
Innovation Solution
The use of viscoelastic surfactants combined with pseudo-linking agents in cleaning compositions, which provide both thickening and cleaning functions, maintaining stability under shear and enhancing cleaning performance in acidic, neutral, or caustic environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If polymeric thickening agents are used to impart viscosity, then contact time on surfaces is increased, but the composition degrades under mechanical shear or chemical scission leading to loss of viscosity and suspension stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing polymeric thickeners with inorganic thickening agents (such as bentonite, attapulgite, or colloidal silica) that do not degrade under mechanical shear or chemical scission. These inorganic thickeners maintain stable viscosity and suspension stability in both acidic and caustic environments, resolving the contradiction between contact time and viscosity stability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If polymeric thickening agents are used to increase viscosity, then contact time is improved, but undesirable gel residue is left on cleaned surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the thickening agent from organic polymers to inorganic materials (bentonite, attapulgite, colloidal silica). These inorganic thickeners do not form gel residues on cleaned surfaces while still providing the necessary viscosity for extended contact time, thereby eliminating the harmful residue effect.
3Duration of action of moving object
If polymeric thickening agents are used to provide viscosity, then contact time is increased, but cleaning action is reduced due to barrier effect and dilution of active cleaning agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from polymeric thickeners to inorganic thickening agents that do not create barrier effects. The inorganic thickeners maintain proper formulation chemistry, allowing active cleaning agents to remain effective while still providing sufficient viscosity for adequate contact time on cleaned surfaces.
4Reliability
If viscoelastic surfactants with pseudo-crosslinking agents are used, then stability under shear is maintained and cleaning performance is enhanced, but formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs viscoelastic surfactants that perform multiple functions: they provide the necessary viscosity, maintain stability under shear conditions, and contribute to cleaning performance. The pseudo-crosslinking agents enhance these properties while the formulation remains relatively simple, achieving multi-functionality without excessive complexity.
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
Viscoelastic surfactant-based cleaning compositions offer improved stability, cling, and reduced misting, while maintaining effective cleaning performance without the drawbacks of polymeric thickeners, ensuring better soil removal and surface interaction.
Implementation Method 1
The property of viscoelasticity in general is well known and reference is made to S. Gravsholt, Journal of Coll. And Interface Sci., 57(3), 575 (1976); Hoffmann et al., 'Influence of Ionic Surfactants on the Viscoelastic Properties of Zwitterionic Surfactant Solutions', Langmuir, 8, 2140-2146 (1992); and Hoffmann et al., The Rheological Behaviour of Different Viscoelastic Surfactant Solutions, Tenside Surf. Det., 31, 389-400, 1994. Viscoelasticity is caused by a different type of micelle formation than the usual spherical micelles formed by most surfactants. Viscoelastic surfactant fluids form worm-like, rod-like or cylindrical micelles in solution. The formation of long, cylindrical micelles creates useful rheological properties. The viscoelastic surfactant solution exhibits shear thinning behavior, and remains stable despite repeated high shear applications.
Implementation Method 2
The viscoelastic surfactant solution exhibits shear thinning behavior, and remains stable despite repeated high shear applications.
Implementation Method 3
Polymeric thickeners, e.g. starches, thicken by entanglement of the polymeric chains.
Data Source
AI summary
Alkaline or neutral viscoelastic cleaning compositions are disclosed which use non polymer thickening agents. According to the invention, cleaning compositions have been developed using viscoelastic surfactants in a neutral, acidic or alkaline cleaning formulations. These provide the dual benefit of thickening as well as an additional cleaning, thereby improving performance. Applicants have also identified several pseudo linking agents which when, used with viscoelastic surfactants provide viscoelasticity in alkaline cleaning compositions.