Nanoparticle carrier platform and methods for controlled release of subterranean well treatment additives
Nano-sized mixed metal oxide carriers capable of delivering a well treatment additive for a sustained or extended period of time in the environment of use, methods of making the nanoparticles, and uses thereof are described herein. The nanoparticles can have a formula of: A/[M x 1 M y 2 M z 3 ]O n H m where x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.4, z is 0.01 to 0.4 and n and m are determined by the oxidation states of the other elements, and M 1 can be aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), or thallium (Tl). M 2 and M 3 are not the same and can be a Column 2 metal, Column 14 metal, or a transition metal. A is can be a treatment additive.
1. A mixed metal oxide nanoparticle comprising:
M 1 x O n H m ;
M 2 y O n H m ; and
M 3 y O n H m ,
where
M 1 , M 2 , and M 3 are each in the crystal lattice structure of the nanoparticle,
M 1 is a Column 13 element selected from aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), and thallium (Tl),
M 2 and M 3 are each individually a Column 2 metal, a Column 14 metal, or a transition metal, with the proviso that M 2 and M 3 are different, and
x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.4, z is 0.01 to 0.4, and n and m for each of M 1 x O n H m , M 2 y O n H m , and M 3 y O n H m is individually determined by the oxidation states of the metals M 1 , M 2 , and M 3 .
2. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein M 2 and M 3 are each independently beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra).
3. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein M 1 is Al, M 2 is Mg, and M 3 is calcium (Ca).
4. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 1 nm to 10,000 nm.
5. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 4 , wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 10 nm to 1000 nm.
6. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 5 , wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 10 nm to 200 nm.
7. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticle further comprises an additive.
8. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7 , wherein the additive is capable of being released from the nanoparticle in a controlled manner over an extended period of time.
9. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7 , wherein the well treatment additive is chemically bound to the nanoparticle through an ionic bond, a covalent bond, a hydrogen bond, a Van der Walls interaction, or by adsorption onto the particle.
10. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticle is impregnated with the additive.
11. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7 , wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a coating, and wherein the additive is comprised in the coating.
12. The mixed metal nanoparticle of claim 7 , wherein the additive is a scale inhibitor, a hydrate inhibitor, a clay stabilizer, a bactericide, a salt substitute, a relative permeability modifier, a sulfide scavenger, a corrosion inhibitor, a corrosion inhibitor intensifier, a pH control additive, a surfactant, a breaker, a fluid loss control additive, an asphaltene inhibitor, a paraffin inhibitor, a chelating agent, a foamer, a defoamer, an emulsifier, a demulsifier, an iron control agent, a solvent, or a friction reducer, or any combination thereof.
13. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 12 , wherein the additive is a scale inhibitor.
14. The nanoparticle of claim 13 , wherein the scale inhibitor is an organic molecule having a carboxylic acid, a polycarboxylic acid, aspartic acid, maleic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, or a phosphate ester group or salts thereof.
15. The nanoparticle of claim 14 , wherein the scale inhibitor is a polymer comprising sulfonated polycarboxylic acid functionality.
16. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 12 , wherein the additive is an asphaltene inhibitor.
17. The mixed metal oxide of claim 7 , wherein the additive is a subterranean treatment additive.
18. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the additive is a well treatment additive.
19. The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 2 , wherein the nanoparticle comprises at least two additives, and wherein the at least two additives are different from each other.
20. A composition comprising a plurality of the nanoparticles of claim 1 .
21. The composition of claim 20 , wherein the composition is a fluid.
22. The composition of claim 20 , wherein the composition is an aqueous liquid, and wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are suspended within the aqueous liquid.
23. The composition of claim 20 , further comprising water.