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Abe K, Seddiqi KN, Hou J, Fujii H. Experimental Performance Evaluation and Optimization of a Weak Gel Deep-Profile Control System for Sandstone Reservoirs. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:7597-7608. [PMID: 38405446 PMCID: PMC10882665 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c10244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Globally, most oil fields use excessive water flooding to recover oil. By injection of water between wells, channels are created, which result in lower oil recovery. Water-plugging deep-profile control must be used to control the excessive water production from an oil reservoir. This laboratory study used sulfonated polyacrylamides with a molecular weight of 10.3-13.0 × 106 Da (FPAM) and polyethylenimine (PEI-600) to formulate a weak gel system to control excessive water production from deep formations. Using different FPAM and PEI-600 concentrations, the Sydansk bottle test approach was applied to evaluate the gelation time, strength, and stability of the weak gel. The weak gel concentration of 0.5 wt % FPAM and 0.4 wt % PEI-600 was confirmed for deep-profile control by this approach. The temperature and salt resistance of the selected weak gel system were evaluated using the same bottle test methodology. The gelation time depends on temperature: 5-7 days at <100 °C to 0.5 days >100 °C. Salinity >20,000 mg/L significantly affected the weak gel system's strength. By performing a viscometer test, the viscosity of the weak gel system at different times was evaluated, confirming the gelation time of the selected weak gel. Next, a microfluidic chip flooding test analyzed weak gel performance and plugging ability in porous media. This micromodel provided a visual analysis of the weak gel plug. Finally, a low- to medium-permeability sandstone core-flooding was conducted to determine the plugging rate of weak gel at the core scale, followed by an evaluation of the injection pressure, blocking effect, and oil recovery. According to the study, the selected weak gel has an extended gelation time with a significantly low viscosity, which affects its injectivity and can move from injection wells into deep formations. In the core-flooding test, the weak gel's blocking rate after 7 days of gelation time exceeded 90%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Abe
- Department
of Earth Resource Engineering and Environmental Science, Akita University, Graduate School of International
Resource Sciences, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-machi, Akita 010-8502, Japan
| | - Khwaja Naweed Seddiqi
- Center
for Regional Revitalization in Research and Education, Akita University, 1-1 Tegata Gakuen-machi, Akita 010-8502, Japan
| | - Jirui Hou
- The
Unconventional Oil and Gas Institute, Changping, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
| | - Hikari Fujii
- Graduate
School of International Resource Sciences, Department of Earth Resource
Engineering and Environmental Science, Akita
University, 1-1 Tegata
Gakuen-machi, Akita 010-8502, Japan
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Lew JH, Hue KY, Matar OK, Müller EA, Luckham PF, Santos AS, Myo Thant MM. Atomic Force Microscopy and Molecular Dynamic Simulation of Adsorption of Polyacrylamide with Different Chemistries onto Calcium Carbonate. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:494. [PMID: 38399872 PMCID: PMC10893507 DOI: 10.3390/polym16040494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the interaction of polyacrylamide (PAM) of different functional groups (sulfonate vs. carboxylate) and charge density (30% hydrolysed vs. 10% hydrolysed) with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and partly via molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The PAM used were F3330 (30% hydrolysed), AN125 (25% sulfonated), and AN910 (% hydrolysed). A total of 100 ppm of PAMs was prepared in 0.1% NaCl, 3% NaCl, and 4.36% NaNO3 to be employed in AFM experiments, while oligomeric models (30 repeating units) of hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM), sulfonated polyacrylamide (SPAM), and neutral PAM (NPAM) were studied on a model calcite surface on MD simulations. AFM analysis indicated that F3330 has a higher average adhesion and interaction energy with CaCO3 than AN125 due to the bulky sulfonate side group of AN125 interfering with SPAM adsorption. Steric repulsion of both PAMs was similar due to their comparable molecular weights and densities of the charged group. In contrast, AN910 showed lower average adhesion and interaction energy, along with slightly longer steric repulsion with calcite than F3330, suggesting AN910 adopts more loops and tails than the slightly flatter F3330 configuration. An increase in salt concentration from 0.1% to 3% NaCl saw a reduction in adhesion and interaction energy for F3330 and AN125 due to charge screening, while AN910 saw an increase, and these values increased further at 4.36% NaNO3. MD simulations revealed that the salt ions in the system formed salt bridges between PAM and calcite, indicating that the adhesion and interaction energy observed from AFM are likely to be the net balance between PAM charged group screening and salt bridging by the salt ions present. Salt ions with larger bare radii and smaller hydrated radii were shown to form stronger salt bridges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Hau Lew
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Keat Yung Hue
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Omar K. Matar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Erich A. Müller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Paul F. Luckham
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Adrielle Sousa Santos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (K.Y.H.); (O.K.M.); (E.A.M.); (P.F.L.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Maung Maung Myo Thant
- PETRONAS Research Sdn. Bhd., Lot 3288 & 3289, Off Jalan Ayer Itam, Kawasan Institusi Bangi, Kajang 43000, Selangor, Malaysia;
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Quezada GR, Retamal F, Jeldres M, Jeldres RI. Understanding the Behavior of Sodium Polyacrylate in Suspensions of Silica and Monovalent Salts. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:3861. [PMID: 37835908 PMCID: PMC10575086 DOI: 10.3390/polym15193861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the interaction of monovalent cations with different sizes on quartz surfaces and the rheological impact that this causes in concentrated suspensions when subjected to the action of a rheological modifier, in this case, sodium polyacrylate (NaPA). Yield stress was determined using a rheometer with a vane-in-cup configuration to establish the relationship between shear stress and strain. Experiments were carried out in LiCl, NaCl, KCl, and CsCl solutions. The results show that the yield stress increases following the order Li < Na < K < Cs in the absence of PAA. However, the addition of NaPA significantly reduced the yield stress in all cases. This reduction was more noticeable in the LiCl and NaCl solutions than in the KCl and CsCl solutions, suggesting a more pronounced effect of PA in maker salts. We conducted molecular dynamics simulations to understand how PA interacts with dissolved salts on the quartz surface. Our results showed that Li had the highest adsorption, followed by Na, K, and Cs. As the salt concentration increased, so did the adsorption. We validated these simulation results with rheological experiments, which helped us understand the observed differences. The molecular interactions indicate that, in the lithium system, cationic bridges and the synergy between hydrogen bridges and hydrophobic bridges predominate mainly. This tendency decreases as the type of cation is changed due to the decrease in the electrical density of the cation in the following order: Li < Na < K < Cs. This reduces bridging with the quartz surface and, therefore, directly impacts the system's rheological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo R. Quezada
- Escuela de Ingeniería Civil Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción 4030000, Chile;
| | - Francisco Retamal
- Escuela de Ingeniería Civil Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción 4030000, Chile;
| | - Matías Jeldres
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile; (M.J.); (R.I.J.)
| | - Ricardo I. Jeldres
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, Chile; (M.J.); (R.I.J.)
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Wang D, Zheng Y, Deng Q, Liu X. Water-Soluble Synthetic Polymers: Their Environmental Emission Relevant Usage, Transport and Transformation, Persistence, and Toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6387-6402. [PMID: 37052478 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Water-soluble synthetic polymers (WSPs) are distinct from insoluble plastic particles, which are both critical components of synthetic polymers. In the history of human-made macromolecules, WSPs have consistently portrayed a crucial role and served as the ingredients of a variety of products (e.g., flocculants, thickeners, solubilizers, surfactants, etc.) commonly used in human society. However, the environmental exposures and risks of WSPs with different functions remain poorly understood. This paper provides a critical review of the usage, environmental fate, environmental persistence, and biological consequences of multiple types of WSPs in commercial and industrial production. Investigations have identified a wide market of applications and potential environmental threats of various types of WSPs, but we still lack the suitable assessment tools. The effects of physicochemical properties and environmental factors on the environmental distribution as well as the transport and transformation of WSPs are further summarized. Evidence regarding the degradation of WSPs, including mechanical, thermal, hydrolytic, photoinduced, and biological degradation is summarized, and their environmental persistence is discussed. The toxicity data show that some WSPs can cause adverse effects on aquatic species and microbial communities through intrinsic toxicity and physical hazards. This review may serve as a guide for environmental risk assessment to help develop a sustainable path for WSP management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbo Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Yuyang Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Qian Deng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Ministry of Education), Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China
| | - Xuran Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
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Zhou X, Lei L, Zeng Y, Lu X, Liang F, Zhang L, Lin G. High salinity effects on the depletion attraction in colloid-polymer mixtures. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 631:155-164. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.10.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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A Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polymers’ Interactions with Kaolinite (010) Surfaces in Saline Solutions. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14183851. [PMID: 36145996 PMCID: PMC9505134 DOI: 10.3390/polym14183851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for polymers that meet the demands of the water recovery process in mining is a contingent challenge. Both the presence of clays and saline waters can impair water recovery from tailings when conventional flocculants are used. In this work, the adsorption of polyacrylamide (PAM), hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and guar gum (GUAR) on a kaolinite surface (010) was investigated using classical molecular dynamics. The results show that the presence of sodium chloride modifies the affinities of the polymers with kaolinite (010). At low salt concentrations, the PAM and GUAR polymers generally show higher adsorption due to the formation of hydrogen bridges. However, the highest adsorptions occur in salt solutions in the presence of HPAM by cationic bridging with sodium ions as a mediator. This high affinity of HPAM is not efficient for flocculation because it re-disperses the particles, but it is promising for the design of new additives produced by grafting HPAM groups onto advanced polymers.
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Cheng H, Zheng X, Wu Y, Zhang J, Zhao X, Li C. Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Oil Displacement Mechanism of Weak Gel in Waterflood Reservoirs. Gels 2022; 8:gels8050309. [PMID: 35621607 PMCID: PMC9140612 DOI: 10.3390/gels8050309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The production performance of waterflood reservoirs with years of production is severely challenged by high water cuts and extensive water channels. Among IOR/EOR methods, weak gel injection is particularly effective in improving the water displacement efficiency and oil recovery. The visualized microscopic oil displacement experiments were designed to comprehensively investigate the weak gel mechanisms in porous media and the numerical simulations coupling equations characterizing weak gel viscosity induced dynamics were implemented to understand its planar and vertical block and movement behaviors at the field scale. From experiments, the residual oil of initial water flooding mainly exists in the form of cluster, column, dead end, and membranous, and it mainly exists in the form of cluster and dead end in subsequent water flooding stage following weak gel injection. The porous flow mechanism of weak gel includes the preferential plugging of large channels, the integral and staged transport of weak gel, and the residual oil flow along pore walls in weak gel displacement. The profile-control mechanism of weak gel is as follows: weak gel selectively enters the large channels, weak gel blocks large channels and forces subsequent water flow to change direction, weak gel uses viscoelastic bulk motion to form negative pressure oil absorption, and the oil droplets converge to form an oil stream, respectively. The numerical simulation indicates that weak gel can effectively reduce the water-oil mobility ratio, preferentially block the high permeability layer and the large pore channels, divert the subsequent water to flood the low permeability layer, and improve the water injection swept efficiency. It is found numerically that a weak gel system is able to flow forward under high-pressure differences in the subsequent water flooding, which can further improve oil displacement efficiency. Unlike the conventional profile-control methods, weak gels make it possible to displace the bypassed oil in the deep inter-well regions with significant potential to enhance oil recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Cheng
- Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Petrochina, Keramay 834000, China;
| | - Xianbao Zheng
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Petrochina Daqing Oilfield, Daqing 163000, China; (X.Z.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
| | - Yongbin Wu
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Petrochina, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Jipeng Zhang
- School of Energy, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Xin Zhao
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Petrochina Daqing Oilfield, Daqing 163000, China; (X.Z.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
| | - Chenglong Li
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Petrochina Daqing Oilfield, Daqing 163000, China; (X.Z.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
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Theoretical Study on the Micro-Flow Mechanism of Polymer Flooding in a Double Heterogeneous Oil Layer. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15093236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Critical issues in the development of oil fields include the differences in the layer properties as well as serious interlayer conflicts and disturbances that can lead to the formation of a preferential flow pathway. In order to understand the interlayer disturbance mechanism between the heterogeneous oil layers, mathematical models of the polymer, and oil two-phase micro-flow in porous media are established based on the Navier-Stokes equation. The phase-field method is used to track the two-phase interface during the displacement process. Then, the influences of wettability, injection modes, and permeability contrasts on the front length coefficient and the displacement efficiency are studied. The results showed that when the rock surface is water-wet (oil-wet), the polymer displaced the low (high) permeability layer first, and the interlayer breakthrough is obvious in the early stages of displacement. After the front broke through, the water-wet (oil-wet) rocks began to displace the high (low) permeability layer, and the preferential flow pathway is formed, which slowed the subsequent polymer flooding. When the rock surface is oil-wet, the perforation degree of the inlet had a greater effect on the micro-oil displacement efficiency. The micro-oil displacement efficiency of the full perforation and commingling production model is 26.21% and 37.75% higher than that of the separate-layer injection and commingling production, as well as the partial perforation and commingling production-injection models, respectively. The larger the permeability contrast, the more obvious the interlayer breakthrough. This study reveals the influence of different wettability characteristics, injection modes, and permeability contrasts on the front length coefficient and the displacement efficiency in a micro-heterogeneous model and provides an important theoretical basis for the formulation of enhanced oil recovery schemes for heterogeneous oil layers.
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