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 nanoparticle having a formula of:
A/[M x 1 M y 2 M z 3 ]O n H m
where
M 1 , M 2 , and M 3 are in the crystal lattice structure of the nanoparticle and M 1 is a Column 13 element selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), and thallium (Tl), M 2 and M 3 are each a Column 2 metal, a Column 14 metal, or a transition metal, with the proviso that M 2 and M 3 are different,
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 metals M 1 , M 2 , and M 3 , and
A is a well treatment additive capable of being released from the nanoparticle.
2. The 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 nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein M 1 is Al, M 2 is Mg and M 3 is calcium (Ca).
4. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein A 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, a friction reducer, or any combination thereof.
5. The nanoparticle of claim 4 , wherein the additive is a scale inhibitor.
6. The nanoparticle of claim 5 , 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.
7. The nanoparticle of claim 6 , wherein the scale inhibitor is a polymer comprising sulfonated polycarboxylic acid functionality.
8. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the well treatment additive is impregnated within the nanoparticle.
9. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , 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 nanoparticle of claim 1 , having a diameter of 1 nm to 10,000 nm.
11. The nanoparticle of claim 10 , wherein the diameter is 10 nm to 1000 nm.
12. The nanoparticle of claim 10 , wherein the diameter is 10 nm to 200 nm.
13. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the additive is capable of being released from the nanoparticle in a controlled manner over an extended period of time.
14. A well treatment composition comprising a plurality of the nanoparticles of claim 1 .
15. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , wherein the composition is a fluid.
16. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , wherein the well-treatment composition is a controlled-release composition capable of releasing the well treatment additive over an extended period of time.
17. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , further comprising water, salt water, an acidic aqueous solution, low sulfate seawater, an aqueous sodium carbonate solution, a surfactant, or other flush fluid, or any combination thereof.
18. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , wherein M 2 and M 3 are each independently beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra).
19. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , wherein M 1 is Al, M 2 is Mg and M 3 is calcium (Ca).
20. The well treatment composition of claim 14 , wherein A 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, a friction reducer, or any combination thereof.