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. 2024 Oct 13;16(20):2884.
doi: 10.3390/polym16202884.

Synthesis of Polyacrylamide Nanomicrospheres Modified with a Reactive Carbamate Surfactant for Efficient Profile Control and Blocking

Wenwen Yang  1 , Xiaojuan Lai  1   2 , Lei Wang  1 , Huaqiang Shi  3 , Haibin Li  4 , Jiali Chen  4 , Xin Wen  1 , Yulong Li  5 , Xiaojiang Song  1 , Wenfei Wang  1
Affiliations

Synthesis of Polyacrylamide Nanomicrospheres Modified with a Reactive Carbamate Surfactant for Efficient Profile Control and Blocking

Wenwen Yang et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Urethane surfactants (REQ) were synthesized with octadecanol ethoxylate (AEO) and isocyanate methacrylate (IEM). Subsequently, reactive-carbamate-surfactant-modified nanomicrospheres (PER) were prepared via two-phase aqueous dispersion polymerization using acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The microstructures and properties of the nanomicrospheres were characterized and examined via infrared spectroscopy, nano-laser particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and in-house simulated exfoliation experiments. The results showed that the synthesized PER nanomicrospheres had a uniform particle size distribution, with an average size of 336 nm. The thermal decomposition temperature of the nanomicrospheres was 278 °C, and the nanomicrospheres had good thermal stability. At the same time, the nanomicrospheres maintained good swelling properties at mineralization < 10,000 mg/L and temperature < 90 °C. Under the condition of certain permeability, the blocking rate and drag coefficient gradually increased with increasing polymer microsphere concentration. Furthermore, at certain polymer microsphere concentrations, the blocking rate and drag coefficient gradually decreased with increasing core permeability. The experimental results indicate that nanomicrospheres used in the artificial core simulation drive have a better ability to drive oil recovery. Compared with AM microspheres (without REQ modification), nanomicrospheres exert a more considerable effect on recovery improvement. Compared with the water drive stage, the final recovery rate after the drive increases by 23.53%. This improvement is attributed to the unique structural design of the nanorods, which can form a thin film at the oil-water-rock interface and promote oil emulsification and stripping. In conclusion, PER nanomicrospheres can effectively control the fluid dynamics within the reservoir, reduce the loss of oil and gas resources, and improve the economic benefits of oil and gas fields, giving them a good application prospect.

Keywords: blocking rate; moderator; nanomicrospheres; recovery rate; surfactant modified.

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Conflict of interest statement

Author Huaqiang Shi was employed by the company Oil & Gas Technology Research Institute of Changqing Oilfield Branch Company, PetroChina. Author Haibin Li and Jiali Chen were employed by the company Xi’an Wonder Energy Chemical Co., Ltd. Author Yulong Li was employed by the company Shaanxi Rixin Petrochemical Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Synthetic route for the REQ functional monomer. (b) Synthetic route for the PER nanomicrospheres. (c) Molecular formula for PER nanomicrospheres.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Diagram of polymerization heating process. (b) FTIR spectra of AM (curve a), AMPS (curve b), REQ monomer (curve c), and PER nanomicrospheres (curve d). (c) NMR of the monomer REQ. (d) PER thermal stability test. (e) Particle size testing of PER nanomicrospheres with different dissolution times.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scanning electron microscopy of nanomicrospheres PER under different conditions: (a) dissolved in pure water for 1 d, (b) dissolved in pure water for 3 d, (c) dissolved in pure water for 5 d, (d) dissolved in saline for 1 d, (e) dissolved in saline for 3 d, and (f) dissolved in saline for 5 d.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Salt and temperature resistance of PER nanomicrospheres. (a) Comparison of salt resistance of nanomicrospheres at different salt concentrations. (b) Comparison of the temperature resistance of nanomicrospheres at different temperatures.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Pressure characteristic curve of each pressure point under different permeability. (a) Core permeability of 800 × 10−3 µm2. (b) Core permeability of 2000 × 10−3 µm2. (c) Core permeability of 4000 × 10−3 µm2.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Pressure characteristic curve of each pressure point under different concentrations. (a) 2000 mg/L PER nanomicrosphere dispersion. (b) 3000 mg/L PER nanomicrosphere dispersion. (c) 4000 mg/L PER nanomicrosphere dispersion.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Dynamic characteristics of polymer microsphere oil repulsion experiments at different concentrations. (a) PER nanomicrospheres at a concentration of 2000 mg/L. (b) AM microspheres at a concentration of 2000 mg/L. (c) PER nanomicrospheres at a concentration of 3000 mg/L. (d) AM microspheres at a concentration of 3000 mg/L. (e) PER nanomicrospheres at a concentration of 4000 mg/L (f) AM microspheres at a concentration of 4000 mg/L.
Figure 8
Figure 8
PER nanomicrospheres oil repellent diagram.
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