Viscosifier Polymer and Polyamine Modifier for Subterranean Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viscosifiers used in petroleum extraction face challenges such as reduced effectiveness at high temperatures and in the presence of ions, leading to increased costs and formation damage due to clay usage.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a viscosifier polymer with ethylene repeating units and a polyamine viscosity modifier is used, providing enhanced viscosity and fluid loss control without the need for excessive clay, maintaining stability under high temperature and high salinity conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional viscosifiers are used to achieve desired viscosity, then viscosity is improved, but effectiveness is reduced at high temperatures and in the presence of ions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a copolymer system where the ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic monomers is optimized to maintain viscosity stability across varying temperatures and ionic conditions. The specific parameter changes include selecting monomers with appropriate glass transition temperatures and hydrophobicity to ensure the viscosifier remains effective in high-temperature, high-salinity subterranean environments without degrading performance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite polymer system comprising multiple monomer types (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) copolymerized together. This composite structure allows the viscosifier to simultaneously provide temperature resistance and ionic stability, resolving the contradiction between maintaining viscosity and preserving effectiveness under challenging downhole conditions
2Stability of the object's composition
If larger amounts of viscosifiers are used to compensate for high temperature degradation, then viscosity is maintained, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the chemical parameters of the viscosifier through copolymerization with specific hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in optimized ratios, the system achieves superior thermal stability. This allows maintaining effective viscosity at lower concentrations compared to conventional viscosifiers, reducing the quantity required while preserving performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a cost-effective copolymer formulation that provides extended service life and consistent performance in high-temperature environments. This reduces the need for frequent replacement or supplementation of viscosifier, effectively lowering the total quantity consumed over the treatment lifecycle
3Stability of the object's composition
If clay is used with viscosifiers to achieve desired viscosity or fluid loss control, then viscosity and fluid loss control are improved, but formation damage occurs due to pore plugging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the need for clay additives by designing a copolymer viscosifier that inherently provides both viscosity stabilization and fluid loss control through its molecular structure. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic monomer combination creates a polymer that can control fluid loss without requiring clay, thereby eliminating pore plugging and formation damage while maintaining fluid loss control
Solution Approach 2:
The copolymer viscosifier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides viscosity stability, fluid loss control, and formation protection in a single additive system. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional multi-component system (viscosifier plus clay) with a unified polymer that achieves all desired effects without harmful side effects
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments disclosed relate to compositions including a viscosifier polymer and a polyamine viscosity modifier and methods of using the same for treatment of subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in a subterranean formation a composition including a viscosifier polymer and a polyamine viscosity modifier.