IP Library Granted Patent US 11,708,522
Granted Patent B1
US 11,708,522 · App. 17/689,543 · Granted Jul 25, 2023

Water-based hydrogel polymer composition and methods of treating subterranean formations or cement constructions comprising contaminants

Inventor: Elizabeth Contreras (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
C09K8/512C04B24/2664C04B24/32C04B28/02C09K8/588E21B43/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,708,522
App. No.
17/689,543
Granted
Jul 25, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

This disclosure relates to methods of treating a subterranean formation or cement construction in the presence of one or more contaminants using a hydrogel composition that contains a poly-alkene maleic anhydride copolymer, a polyethylene glycol, and an aqueous carrier.

Claims (31)

1. A method of treating a subterranean formation or cement construction comprising contaminants, wherein the method comprises:

providing to the subterranean formation or cement construction a hydrogel composition having a viscosity of about 2000 mPa·s to about 10,000 mPa·s at 22° C., the hydrogel composition comprising:

about 10% to about 30% poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of about 55,000 Da to about 65,000 Da, a density of about 1.3 g/m 3 , and 80% particle size distribution of 12-200 mesh;

about 1% to about 20% polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 Da to about 30,000 Da and a density of about 1.2 g/m 3 ; and

an aqueous carrier,

wherein the poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer and the polyethylene glycol comprise about 11% to about 50% of the hydrogel composition, and

wherein the hydrogel composition is pumpable and settable up to a temperature of about 200° F. to about 450° F.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition sets and forms a solid at a temperature of about 200° F. to about 450° F.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein setting the hydrogel composition and forming the solid prevents or retards undesired loss or flow of a wellbore fluid into the formation or construction; or the flow of formation fluids into the formation or construction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises about 15% to about 25% poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises about 20% poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 20,000 Da.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises about 5% to about 15% polyethylene glycol.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises about 10% polyethylene glycol.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the hydrogel composition is about 3500 to about 9000 mPa·s at 22° C.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the hydrogel composition is about 4000 to about 5500 mPa·s at 22° C.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises a crosslinker.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of an ethyleneamine, a benzenetricarboxylic acid, a benzimidazole, and citric acid, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contaminants are selected from the group consisting of acid, brine, diesel, and oil-based mud.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subterranean formation or cement construction comprises up to about 50% (v/v) wellbore fluids contaminant.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel composition comprises a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of an ethyleneamine, a benzenetricarboxylic acid, a benzimidazole, and citric acid and combinations thereof.

16. A method of displacing hydrocarbons in a production well, wherein the method comprises:

providing to the production well a hydrogel composition having a viscosity of about 2000 mPa·s to about 10,000 mPa·s at 22° C., the hydrogel composition comprising:

about 10% to about 30% poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer having a weight-average molecular weight of about 55,000 Da to about 65,000 Da, a density of about 1.3 g/m 3 , and 80% particle size distribution of 12-200 mesh;

about 1% to about 20% polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 10,000 Da to about 30,000 Da and a density of about 1.2 g/m 3 ; and

an aqueous carrier,

wherein the poly-isobutylene maleic anhydride copolymer and the polyethylene glycol comprise about 11% to about 50% of the hydrogel composition, and

wherein the hydrogel composition is pumpable and settable up to a temperature of about 200° F. to about 450° F.; and

setting the hydrogel composition to form a resin, thereby displacing the hydrocarbons in the production well as a supernatant.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method is used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the hydrocarbons are diesel.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2022
From: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060065/0727 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2022
From: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060065/0776 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: CONTRERAS, ELIZABETH
To: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059204/0910 →