An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs

Polyacrylamide-based gel plugging agents are extensively utilized in oilfields for water shutoff. However, their thermal stability, salt tolerance, and shear resistance are limited, making it difficult to achieve high-strength plugging and maintain stability under high-temperature and high-salinity...

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Main Authors: Yang Yang, Shuangxiang Ye, Ping Liu, Youqi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11957
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author Yang Yang
Shuangxiang Ye
Ping Liu
Youqi Wang
author_facet Yang Yang
Shuangxiang Ye
Ping Liu
Youqi Wang
author_sort Yang Yang
collection DOAJ
description Polyacrylamide-based gel plugging agents are extensively utilized in oilfields for water shutoff. However, their thermal stability, salt tolerance, and shear resistance are limited, making it difficult to achieve high-strength plugging and maintain stability under high-temperature and high-salinity reservoir conditions. This study proposes the use of chitosan (CTSs), a polysaccharide with a rigid cyclic structure, as the polymer. The organic cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) is incorporated via the Michael addition reaction mechanism to develop an ultra-stable, organically cross-linked chitosan gel system. The CTS/MBA gel system was evaluated under various environmental conditions using rheological testing and thermal aging to assess gel strength and stability. The results demonstrate significant improvements in gel strength and stability at high temperatures (up to 120 °C) and under high-shear conditions, as the increased cross-linking density enhanced resistance to thermal and mechanical degradation. Rapid gelation was observed with increasing MBA concentration, while pH and salinity further modulated gel properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of a three-dimensional microstructure after gelation, which contributed to the enhanced properties. This study provides novel insights into optimizing polymer gel performance for the petroleum industry, particularly in high-temperature and high-shear environments.
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spelling doaj-art-5ab99d59695c40f083b3cf0d0fb80f532024-12-27T14:08:54ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0114241195710.3390/app142411957An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil ReservoirsYang Yang0Shuangxiang Ye1Ping Liu2Youqi Wang3State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaCollege of Energy, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, Beijing 100083, ChinaPolyacrylamide-based gel plugging agents are extensively utilized in oilfields for water shutoff. However, their thermal stability, salt tolerance, and shear resistance are limited, making it difficult to achieve high-strength plugging and maintain stability under high-temperature and high-salinity reservoir conditions. This study proposes the use of chitosan (CTSs), a polysaccharide with a rigid cyclic structure, as the polymer. The organic cross-linker N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) is incorporated via the Michael addition reaction mechanism to develop an ultra-stable, organically cross-linked chitosan gel system. The CTS/MBA gel system was evaluated under various environmental conditions using rheological testing and thermal aging to assess gel strength and stability. The results demonstrate significant improvements in gel strength and stability at high temperatures (up to 120 °C) and under high-shear conditions, as the increased cross-linking density enhanced resistance to thermal and mechanical degradation. Rapid gelation was observed with increasing MBA concentration, while pH and salinity further modulated gel properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of a three-dimensional microstructure after gelation, which contributed to the enhanced properties. This study provides novel insights into optimizing polymer gel performance for the petroleum industry, particularly in high-temperature and high-shear environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11957temperature resistanceshear resistancepolysaccharide polymergelplugging agent
spellingShingle Yang Yang
Shuangxiang Ye
Ping Liu
Youqi Wang
An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
Applied Sciences
temperature resistance
shear resistance
polysaccharide polymer
gel
plugging agent
title An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
title_full An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
title_fullStr An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
title_full_unstemmed An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
title_short An Ultra-Stable Polysaccharide Gel Plugging Agent for Water Shutoff in Mature Oil Reservoirs
title_sort ultra stable polysaccharide gel plugging agent for water shutoff in mature oil reservoirs
topic temperature resistance
shear resistance
polysaccharide polymer
gel
plugging agent
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/24/11957
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