Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs

Polymer gels suffer from a serious syneresis issue when exposed to high-temperature and high-salinity (HTHS) conditions, which limits their use as water-treatment agents in this type of reservoir. In this paper, the effects of the polymer type/concentration, deoxidizers, and stabilizers on the long-...

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Main Authors: Shuiqing Hu, Mingchen Ding, Yafei Hu, Yefei Wang, Jiangyang Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/540
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author Shuiqing Hu
Mingchen Ding
Yafei Hu
Yefei Wang
Jiangyang Dong
author_facet Shuiqing Hu
Mingchen Ding
Yafei Hu
Yefei Wang
Jiangyang Dong
author_sort Shuiqing Hu
collection DOAJ
description Polymer gels suffer from a serious syneresis issue when exposed to high-temperature and high-salinity (HTHS) conditions, which limits their use as water-treatment agents in this type of reservoir. In this paper, the effects of the polymer type/concentration, deoxidizers, and stabilizers on the long-term stability of polymer gels were systematically studied; thus, the methods to develop stable polymer gels for two typical levels of salinity were optimized. The results show the following: (1) For a medium-salinity condition (TDS: 33,645.0 mg/L) at 125 °C, conventional HPAM gels completely dehydrate within only 1 day, and the addition of a deoxidizer hardly improved their stability. Some special polymers, e.g., AP-P5, MKY, and CPAM, are able to form stable gels if a high concentration of 0.8% is used; the syneresis rate of these gels is about 10% after 30 days. However, the addition of the complexant sodium oxalate significantly improves the stability of gels formed by all five of these different polymers, which behave with a 0% syneresis rate after 30 days pass. Complexants are the most economical and feasible agents to develop stable gels in medium-salinity water. (2) Gels enhanced using the methods above all become unstable in a more challenging ultra-high-saline condition (TDS: 225,068.0 mg/L). In this case, special calcium- and magnesium-resistant polymers are required to prepare stable gels, which show 0% syneresis rates after 30 days, have relatively low strengths, but do produce a good plugging effect in high-permeability cores.
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spelling doaj.art-03b2d15b376f4496a9fd6f4849f7d5382023-11-18T19:27:37ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612023-07-019754010.3390/gels9070540Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity ReservoirsShuiqing Hu0Mingchen Ding1Yafei Hu2Yefei Wang3Jiangyang Dong4PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaPetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaSchool of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, ChinaPolymer gels suffer from a serious syneresis issue when exposed to high-temperature and high-salinity (HTHS) conditions, which limits their use as water-treatment agents in this type of reservoir. In this paper, the effects of the polymer type/concentration, deoxidizers, and stabilizers on the long-term stability of polymer gels were systematically studied; thus, the methods to develop stable polymer gels for two typical levels of salinity were optimized. The results show the following: (1) For a medium-salinity condition (TDS: 33,645.0 mg/L) at 125 °C, conventional HPAM gels completely dehydrate within only 1 day, and the addition of a deoxidizer hardly improved their stability. Some special polymers, e.g., AP-P5, MKY, and CPAM, are able to form stable gels if a high concentration of 0.8% is used; the syneresis rate of these gels is about 10% after 30 days. However, the addition of the complexant sodium oxalate significantly improves the stability of gels formed by all five of these different polymers, which behave with a 0% syneresis rate after 30 days pass. Complexants are the most economical and feasible agents to develop stable gels in medium-salinity water. (2) Gels enhanced using the methods above all become unstable in a more challenging ultra-high-saline condition (TDS: 225,068.0 mg/L). In this case, special calcium- and magnesium-resistant polymers are required to prepare stable gels, which show 0% syneresis rates after 30 days, have relatively low strengths, but do produce a good plugging effect in high-permeability cores.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/540high temperaturehigh salinitypolymer gelstability enhancementpolymer typedeoxidizer
spellingShingle Shuiqing Hu
Mingchen Ding
Yafei Hu
Yefei Wang
Jiangyang Dong
Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
Gels
high temperature
high salinity
polymer gel
stability enhancement
polymer type
deoxidizer
title Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
title_full Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
title_fullStr Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
title_short Optimization of the Methods to Develop Stable Polymer Gels for Water Management in Medium- and Ultra-High-Salinity Reservoirs
title_sort optimization of the methods to develop stable polymer gels for water management in medium and ultra high salinity reservoirs
topic high temperature
high salinity
polymer gel
stability enhancement
polymer type
deoxidizer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/7/540
work_keys_str_mv AT shuiqinghu optimizationofthemethodstodevelopstablepolymergelsforwatermanagementinmediumandultrahighsalinityreservoirs
AT mingchending optimizationofthemethodstodevelopstablepolymergelsforwatermanagementinmediumandultrahighsalinityreservoirs
AT yafeihu optimizationofthemethodstodevelopstablepolymergelsforwatermanagementinmediumandultrahighsalinityreservoirs
AT yefeiwang optimizationofthemethodstodevelopstablepolymergelsforwatermanagementinmediumandultrahighsalinityreservoirs
AT jiangyangdong optimizationofthemethodstodevelopstablepolymergelsforwatermanagementinmediumandultrahighsalinityreservoirs