CA1329473C - Amino resin modified xanthan polymer gels for permeability profile control - Google Patents
Amino resin modified xanthan polymer gels for permeability profile controlInfo
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- CA1329473C CA1329473C CA000548463A CA548463A CA1329473C CA 1329473 C CA1329473 C CA 1329473C CA 000548463 A CA000548463 A CA 000548463A CA 548463 A CA548463 A CA 548463A CA 1329473 C CA1329473 C CA 1329473C
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- gels
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/60—Compositions for stimulating production by acting on the underground formation
- C09K8/84—Compositions based on water or polar solvents
- C09K8/86—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds
- C09K8/88—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds
- C09K8/90—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose
- C09K8/905—Biopolymers
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/50—Compositions for plastering borehole walls, i.e. compositions for temporary consolidation of borehole walls
- C09K8/504—Compositions based on water or polar solvents
- C09K8/506—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds
- C09K8/508—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds
- C09K8/512—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds containing cross-linking agents
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K8/00—Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
- C09K8/50—Compositions for plastering borehole walls, i.e. compositions for temporary consolidation of borehole walls
- C09K8/504—Compositions based on water or polar solvents
- C09K8/506—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds
- C09K8/508—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds
- C09K8/514—Compositions based on water or polar solvents containing organic compounds macromolecular compounds of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose
Abstract
AMINO RESIN MODIFIED XANTHAN POLYMER GELS
FOR PERMEABILITY PROFILE CONTROL
Abstract A composition of matter wherein amino resins such as melamine formaldehyde ("MF") resins modify biopolymers thereby forming gels with transitional metal ions useful for profile control where said polymers have amine, amide, hydroxyl and thiol functionalities.
Said gels are thermally stable, brine tolerant and rehealable. Said resin modified biopolymers can be used in their liquid or ungelled state as a mobility control agent in a reservoir during the removal of hydrocarbonaceous fluids therefrom.
FOR PERMEABILITY PROFILE CONTROL
Abstract A composition of matter wherein amino resins such as melamine formaldehyde ("MF") resins modify biopolymers thereby forming gels with transitional metal ions useful for profile control where said polymers have amine, amide, hydroxyl and thiol functionalities.
Said gels are thermally stable, brine tolerant and rehealable. Said resin modified biopolymers can be used in their liquid or ungelled state as a mobility control agent in a reservoir during the removal of hydrocarbonaceous fluids therefrom.
Description
FOR PERMEABILITY PROFILE CONTROL
-This invention relates to novel gels resultant from chromium crosslinking of melamine formaldehyde and other amino resins stabilized xanthan polymers and other polysaccharide biopolymers containing hydroxyl, amino, amide, and thiol functionalities. The resultant gels are useful as profile control agents for high temperature reservoirs.
One of the major problems encountered in the waterflooding of permeability-stratified reservoirs is the preferential ~low of water through the more permeable zones between injector and producer wells. This preferential flow greatly reduces the sweep efficiency of driving fluids. This reduction in sweep efficiency can also occur in steam and miscible C~ -flooding processes.
To improve sweep efficiency, the permeability of such zones must be reduced. This technique is commonly known as permeability profile control. Methods for plugging off, divertin~, or reducing the rate of undesired fluid movement in porous media make up a substantial amount of the technology, including placing gels in the formation. Such gels are used to plug highly permeable zones in the formation, thus diverting the water or other fluid through the less permeable zones, thereby improving sweep efficiency and providing greater oil recovery. These prior art gels degrade when sheared, as during the pumping operation through pipes, perforations, and the permeable zones in the formation, resulting in the breakdown of gel structures and the loss of the gel's ability to plug and maintain impermeability. Therefore, they cannot be prepared on the surface and then pumped underground into the formations. Instead, the gellation must be done "in situ" within the formation.
Polysaccharide biopolymers, such as xanthan gum, cellulose derivatives, guar gum, etc., are useful for reservoir permeability -'' .
"
.
~ . . , ' .
profile cor-trol in the crosslinked gel-forms. Chromium crosslinked xanthan gum has been successfully used in many fields to recover incremental o~l. Cr-xanthan gel has many unique features such as brine tolerance, shear stability, shear thinning, and rehealing of the sheared gel. An important advantage of the Cr xanthan gel which derives from these shear properties is that it can be prepared on the surface and then pumped underground into the formations. A
major deficiency of Cr-xanthan and other biopolymers is their low thermal stability. Xanthan gum application is limited to wells with temperatures under 66C ~15ûF). However, there are many reservoirs with higher temperatures. Thermal stability of xanthan gum must be improved in order for these materials to he used to treat reservoirs having high temperatures.
It has been found that amino-resins can react with xanthan gum to result in either gelled or solution form to produce a more thermally stable material. Further reaction with chromium or other metals produces thermally stable, brine tolerant, shear thinnin~, rehealable gels suitable for high temperature reservoir uses.
This invention is directed to a composition of matter and process comprising transitional metal crosslinked (eg. Cr, A1, Zr, etc.) aminoplast resin reacted xanthan polymer, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and other polysaccharide biopolymers having at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a carboxyl, a hydroxyl, and a thiol. The amino resin-polysaccharide biopolymer reaction does not require a catalyst or a particular pH requirement for the preparation of the composition of matter.
The metal crosslinking of the aminoplast resin reacted polymers forms a more thermally stable gel which is useful in producing hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a reservoir containing same and greatly improves the sweep efficiency of driving fluids. Sweep efficiencies are also improved in water flood, steam flood, and miscible carbon dioxide flood processes.
.. . . . . . .................. . ........... . . . . .
. . ~ . . : . , , , ~
,' ' ' ~' . ' ' . ' ' '` " ~ '' . ' ' " '. ' ' This invention provides a composition of matter useful for controlling permeability profile in the recovery of oil which comprises a) water;
b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer having at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group; and c) about 0.02 to about 5.0 wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces the biopolymer; and d) an effective amount of at least one transition metal ions to form a ~el of a size and strength sufficient to close one or more permeable zones in the formation under substantially all pH conditions.
This invention also provides a process for closina pores in a hydrocarbonaceous fluid bearing formation to obtain improved sweep efficiency during a water flood or carbon dioxide oil recovery operation comprising using a composition which comprises:
a) water;
b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer havin~ at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group; and c) about 0.02 to about 5.û wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces said biopolymer; and d) sufficient transitional metal ions to form a gel of a size :
and strength sufficient to close one or nore permeable zones in said formation.
In the practice of this invention, a melamine formaldehyde ("MF") resin is formed as a reaction product of melamine and formaldehyde. The resin is known as an aminoplast or amino resin which comprises a class of thermosettin~ resins made by the reaction of an amine with an aldehyde. The resultant resin is reacted with a 'D
F-4072 ~4~
polysaccharide biopolymer, particularly a xanthan polymer, in an aqueous medium where the polymer has at least one functional group selected from consisting of an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group. The polysaccharide biopolymer includes among others, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and xanthan polymers. This reaction can be carried out at ambient conditions, and also under conditions occurring in a subterranean hydrocarbonaceous formation or reservoir in substantially all pH conditions, however a pH of lû
or less is preferred. The material resultant from the reaction can be a gel or a solution which is then crosslinked with a transitional metal such as Cr, Al, Zr, to produce a gel useful to recover hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a formation containing same.
These gels are novel in that they are unaffected by high saline conditions up to about 23 wt. ~ brine solution, even when the brines contain divalent cations such as Ca(II) and Mg (II), often encountered in the formations. High temperatures encountered in the formations up to about 195F do not adversely affect the gels. The gels can be injected into a formation where the gels "shear" during the injection process and later "reheal" under formation conditions. Gels resultant from the procedure are more thermally stable than the ones without amino resin treatment. A method fcr making a kindred gel without metals is discussed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,157,322 which issued to Colegrove on June 5, 1~79.
Polysaccharide biopolymers, preferably xanthan polymers, having functional groups such as NH2, -CONHz, COOH, -OH, -SH can react with MF resins. One acceptable xanthan biopolymer is~Flocon ~
480û. This biopolymer can be purchased from Pfizer Inc. Chemicals Div., 2}5 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017. Polymer concentrations range from about 0.1 to about 5.û wt. percent, preferably about 0.2-3.0 wto percent.
Melamine formaldehyde resin derived as a reaction product of melamine and formaldehyde has a molar ratio of formaldehyde/
melamine ranging between 1-6. A molar ratio -betwëén 3-6 is commonly used. The methylol group, -CH20H, is reactive to various functional groups such as NH2, -CONH2, ~OH, -SH and can also self-condense to form cured resins. MF resins are ~-.
,, .... : ,,~_ ~. .. ..
often methylated fully or partially to modify their reactivity and solubility. All above mentioned aminoresin varieties are useful in this invention. Its preparation is convenient and well documented in preparative polymer manuals.
The MF resin that is utilized in this invention can be a commercial product. Included among these melamine-formaldehyde (melamine) resins are the partially methylated resins and the hexamethoxymethyl resins (i.e. American Cyanamid's"Cyme~'* 373, '~ymel'37û,"Cymel"380 and"Parez'~resins ). The resin, however, has to be one that is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous medium.
ûther amino resins can also be used. Non-limiting examples of resins which can be used are urea-formaldehyde, ethylene and propylene urea formaldehyde, triazone, uran, and glyoxal resins.
The amount of M~ resins required for polymer modification is in the ratio of 0.1:1 to about 10:1 polymer to amino resins.
The resulting MF reacted xanthan polymer is called MFX polymer.
MFX with high aminoresin ratio are more thermally stable and form gels of higher gel strength. The optimum has to be determined by the field conditions. At high MF/Xanthan ratio, gel may form without Cr crosslinking. This situation should not affect the final gel preparation by Cr or other transitional metal crosslinking.
Final gels resultant from the Cr gelation reaction could be formed in strong brines up to about 23 wt.% brine solution which may contain at least about 1500 ppm Ca(II) and 500 ppm Mg(II). Such gels are rehealable after being sheared. The amount of Cr used is about 1-10 wt. % based on xanthan polymer. Other transition metals can also be used. Nonlimiting examples are Al and Zr. The formed gels were stable as determined by sustained gel integrity and low gel shrinkage at 91C (195F) for at least three months. Examples of preferred gel ccmpositions are set forth below. ~herefore, the thermal stability of Cr-MFX gel is at least 25C (45F) higher than Cr-xanthan gels used in the prior art.
In the preparation of these novel melamine formaldehyde xanthan ("MFX"), Cyanamid'sl~Parez~melaminP-formaldehyde resin, and Pfizer's " Flocon 480~xanthan polymer were utilized. The melamine r~
* Trad~mark ~--. - . .--formaldehyde resin and xanthan polymer were mixed in an aqueous solution sufficient to make the desired MFX polymer. These aqueous solutions can comprise fresh water, field brine, sea water, or synthetic brine. Gel forms in about 15 minutes to about 4 hours after the addition of a transitional metal to MFX, preferably Cr (II~). The preferred ratio of xanthan to amino-resin is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1. Ratio of xanthan to transitional metal, preferably Cr, is from about 10:1 to about 100:1.
A concentrated brine solution was utili~ed to demonstrate the brine tolerance of MFX polymer and its gelled composition. The Drine solution also contained 21.6% (w/v) of total dissolved solids, and comprised a composition as stated below:
NaCl 154.32 9 per liter KCl g 2 2 16.3 aC12 2 2 44.38 ~aCl2 2H2 û.22 Examples (1) The following six MFX samples were prepared with the composition shown:
Melamine Formaldehyde Xanthan Resin MFX No. (ppm) (ppm) ~;
-This invention relates to novel gels resultant from chromium crosslinking of melamine formaldehyde and other amino resins stabilized xanthan polymers and other polysaccharide biopolymers containing hydroxyl, amino, amide, and thiol functionalities. The resultant gels are useful as profile control agents for high temperature reservoirs.
One of the major problems encountered in the waterflooding of permeability-stratified reservoirs is the preferential ~low of water through the more permeable zones between injector and producer wells. This preferential flow greatly reduces the sweep efficiency of driving fluids. This reduction in sweep efficiency can also occur in steam and miscible C~ -flooding processes.
To improve sweep efficiency, the permeability of such zones must be reduced. This technique is commonly known as permeability profile control. Methods for plugging off, divertin~, or reducing the rate of undesired fluid movement in porous media make up a substantial amount of the technology, including placing gels in the formation. Such gels are used to plug highly permeable zones in the formation, thus diverting the water or other fluid through the less permeable zones, thereby improving sweep efficiency and providing greater oil recovery. These prior art gels degrade when sheared, as during the pumping operation through pipes, perforations, and the permeable zones in the formation, resulting in the breakdown of gel structures and the loss of the gel's ability to plug and maintain impermeability. Therefore, they cannot be prepared on the surface and then pumped underground into the formations. Instead, the gellation must be done "in situ" within the formation.
Polysaccharide biopolymers, such as xanthan gum, cellulose derivatives, guar gum, etc., are useful for reservoir permeability -'' .
"
.
~ . . , ' .
profile cor-trol in the crosslinked gel-forms. Chromium crosslinked xanthan gum has been successfully used in many fields to recover incremental o~l. Cr-xanthan gel has many unique features such as brine tolerance, shear stability, shear thinning, and rehealing of the sheared gel. An important advantage of the Cr xanthan gel which derives from these shear properties is that it can be prepared on the surface and then pumped underground into the formations. A
major deficiency of Cr-xanthan and other biopolymers is their low thermal stability. Xanthan gum application is limited to wells with temperatures under 66C ~15ûF). However, there are many reservoirs with higher temperatures. Thermal stability of xanthan gum must be improved in order for these materials to he used to treat reservoirs having high temperatures.
It has been found that amino-resins can react with xanthan gum to result in either gelled or solution form to produce a more thermally stable material. Further reaction with chromium or other metals produces thermally stable, brine tolerant, shear thinnin~, rehealable gels suitable for high temperature reservoir uses.
This invention is directed to a composition of matter and process comprising transitional metal crosslinked (eg. Cr, A1, Zr, etc.) aminoplast resin reacted xanthan polymer, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and other polysaccharide biopolymers having at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a carboxyl, a hydroxyl, and a thiol. The amino resin-polysaccharide biopolymer reaction does not require a catalyst or a particular pH requirement for the preparation of the composition of matter.
The metal crosslinking of the aminoplast resin reacted polymers forms a more thermally stable gel which is useful in producing hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a reservoir containing same and greatly improves the sweep efficiency of driving fluids. Sweep efficiencies are also improved in water flood, steam flood, and miscible carbon dioxide flood processes.
.. . . . . . .................. . ........... . . . . .
. . ~ . . : . , , , ~
,' ' ' ~' . ' ' . ' ' '` " ~ '' . ' ' " '. ' ' This invention provides a composition of matter useful for controlling permeability profile in the recovery of oil which comprises a) water;
b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer having at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group; and c) about 0.02 to about 5.0 wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces the biopolymer; and d) an effective amount of at least one transition metal ions to form a ~el of a size and strength sufficient to close one or more permeable zones in the formation under substantially all pH conditions.
This invention also provides a process for closina pores in a hydrocarbonaceous fluid bearing formation to obtain improved sweep efficiency during a water flood or carbon dioxide oil recovery operation comprising using a composition which comprises:
a) water;
b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer havin~ at least one functional group selected from an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group; and c) about 0.02 to about 5.û wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces said biopolymer; and d) sufficient transitional metal ions to form a gel of a size :
and strength sufficient to close one or nore permeable zones in said formation.
In the practice of this invention, a melamine formaldehyde ("MF") resin is formed as a reaction product of melamine and formaldehyde. The resin is known as an aminoplast or amino resin which comprises a class of thermosettin~ resins made by the reaction of an amine with an aldehyde. The resultant resin is reacted with a 'D
F-4072 ~4~
polysaccharide biopolymer, particularly a xanthan polymer, in an aqueous medium where the polymer has at least one functional group selected from consisting of an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group. The polysaccharide biopolymer includes among others, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and xanthan polymers. This reaction can be carried out at ambient conditions, and also under conditions occurring in a subterranean hydrocarbonaceous formation or reservoir in substantially all pH conditions, however a pH of lû
or less is preferred. The material resultant from the reaction can be a gel or a solution which is then crosslinked with a transitional metal such as Cr, Al, Zr, to produce a gel useful to recover hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a formation containing same.
These gels are novel in that they are unaffected by high saline conditions up to about 23 wt. ~ brine solution, even when the brines contain divalent cations such as Ca(II) and Mg (II), often encountered in the formations. High temperatures encountered in the formations up to about 195F do not adversely affect the gels. The gels can be injected into a formation where the gels "shear" during the injection process and later "reheal" under formation conditions. Gels resultant from the procedure are more thermally stable than the ones without amino resin treatment. A method fcr making a kindred gel without metals is discussed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,157,322 which issued to Colegrove on June 5, 1~79.
Polysaccharide biopolymers, preferably xanthan polymers, having functional groups such as NH2, -CONHz, COOH, -OH, -SH can react with MF resins. One acceptable xanthan biopolymer is~Flocon ~
480û. This biopolymer can be purchased from Pfizer Inc. Chemicals Div., 2}5 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017. Polymer concentrations range from about 0.1 to about 5.û wt. percent, preferably about 0.2-3.0 wto percent.
Melamine formaldehyde resin derived as a reaction product of melamine and formaldehyde has a molar ratio of formaldehyde/
melamine ranging between 1-6. A molar ratio -betwëén 3-6 is commonly used. The methylol group, -CH20H, is reactive to various functional groups such as NH2, -CONH2, ~OH, -SH and can also self-condense to form cured resins. MF resins are ~-.
,, .... : ,,~_ ~. .. ..
often methylated fully or partially to modify their reactivity and solubility. All above mentioned aminoresin varieties are useful in this invention. Its preparation is convenient and well documented in preparative polymer manuals.
The MF resin that is utilized in this invention can be a commercial product. Included among these melamine-formaldehyde (melamine) resins are the partially methylated resins and the hexamethoxymethyl resins (i.e. American Cyanamid's"Cyme~'* 373, '~ymel'37û,"Cymel"380 and"Parez'~resins ). The resin, however, has to be one that is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous medium.
ûther amino resins can also be used. Non-limiting examples of resins which can be used are urea-formaldehyde, ethylene and propylene urea formaldehyde, triazone, uran, and glyoxal resins.
The amount of M~ resins required for polymer modification is in the ratio of 0.1:1 to about 10:1 polymer to amino resins.
The resulting MF reacted xanthan polymer is called MFX polymer.
MFX with high aminoresin ratio are more thermally stable and form gels of higher gel strength. The optimum has to be determined by the field conditions. At high MF/Xanthan ratio, gel may form without Cr crosslinking. This situation should not affect the final gel preparation by Cr or other transitional metal crosslinking.
Final gels resultant from the Cr gelation reaction could be formed in strong brines up to about 23 wt.% brine solution which may contain at least about 1500 ppm Ca(II) and 500 ppm Mg(II). Such gels are rehealable after being sheared. The amount of Cr used is about 1-10 wt. % based on xanthan polymer. Other transition metals can also be used. Nonlimiting examples are Al and Zr. The formed gels were stable as determined by sustained gel integrity and low gel shrinkage at 91C (195F) for at least three months. Examples of preferred gel ccmpositions are set forth below. ~herefore, the thermal stability of Cr-MFX gel is at least 25C (45F) higher than Cr-xanthan gels used in the prior art.
In the preparation of these novel melamine formaldehyde xanthan ("MFX"), Cyanamid'sl~Parez~melaminP-formaldehyde resin, and Pfizer's " Flocon 480~xanthan polymer were utilized. The melamine r~
* Trad~mark ~--. - . .--formaldehyde resin and xanthan polymer were mixed in an aqueous solution sufficient to make the desired MFX polymer. These aqueous solutions can comprise fresh water, field brine, sea water, or synthetic brine. Gel forms in about 15 minutes to about 4 hours after the addition of a transitional metal to MFX, preferably Cr (II~). The preferred ratio of xanthan to amino-resin is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 10:1. Ratio of xanthan to transitional metal, preferably Cr, is from about 10:1 to about 100:1.
A concentrated brine solution was utili~ed to demonstrate the brine tolerance of MFX polymer and its gelled composition. The Drine solution also contained 21.6% (w/v) of total dissolved solids, and comprised a composition as stated below:
NaCl 154.32 9 per liter KCl g 2 2 16.3 aC12 2 2 44.38 ~aCl2 2H2 û.22 Examples (1) The following six MFX samples were prepared with the composition shown:
Melamine Formaldehyde Xanthan Resin MFX No. (ppm) (ppm) ~;
2 5000 1000 ~ -6 25ûO 1000 - ...., : . . ; . : , , ,: . ~ ~ : . : .
Xanthan prepared by different manufacturers and different batches from the same manufacturer may vary. The amount of MF resin used should be determined by experiment.
(2) Thermal stability of MFX polymer. MFX-6 and a 2500 ppm xanthan in brine were stored at 91C (195F) for one week. While the MFX-6 sample retained 90Y0 of its viscosity, the xanthan sample decomposed to form precipitates.
(~) Shear stability and shear thinning property of MFX polYmer.
Viscosity Viscosity Unsheared Sheared ~ Measured @
MFX-6 MFX-6 Shear Rate (,~p) (cp) (sec~l) 46.4 45 46 76.2 75.8 23 128 127 11.5 220 20G.4 5.75 * Sheared with a'~aring'~lender for 30 sec. at 2û~000 rpm.
The shear stability of MFX-6 is demonstrated by the equivalence in the viscosities of the sheared and unsheared samples over a range of shear rates. The shear thinninQ property of MFX polymer is shown by the progressively lcwer viscosity reading at higher rates and vice versa.
(4) Gelation with Cr(III). Within four hours after addition of 45 ppm Cr(III) nitrate, all samples (MFX 1-6) formed gels at room temperature.
Xanthan prepared by different manufacturers and different batches from the same manufacturer may vary. The amount of MF resin used should be determined by experiment.
(2) Thermal stability of MFX polymer. MFX-6 and a 2500 ppm xanthan in brine were stored at 91C (195F) for one week. While the MFX-6 sample retained 90Y0 of its viscosity, the xanthan sample decomposed to form precipitates.
(~) Shear stability and shear thinning property of MFX polYmer.
Viscosity Viscosity Unsheared Sheared ~ Measured @
MFX-6 MFX-6 Shear Rate (,~p) (cp) (sec~l) 46.4 45 46 76.2 75.8 23 128 127 11.5 220 20G.4 5.75 * Sheared with a'~aring'~lender for 30 sec. at 2û~000 rpm.
The shear stability of MFX-6 is demonstrated by the equivalence in the viscosities of the sheared and unsheared samples over a range of shear rates. The shear thinninQ property of MFX polymer is shown by the progressively lcwer viscosity reading at higher rates and vice versa.
(4) Gelation with Cr(III). Within four hours after addition of 45 ppm Cr(III) nitrate, all samples (MFX 1-6) formed gels at room temperature.
(5) X-Cr gel, thermal stability. Gels prepared in Example 4 were stûred at 91C (195F) for one week. MFX 1-3 showed no sign of gel shrinkage and deco~position. ~FX 4~6 showed 10-20% gel shrinkage and no sign of degradation. The controls (250û ppm and 5000 ppm xanthan with 45 ppm Cr) showed 50~ gel shrinkage and indication of degradation.
(6) Rehealability of sheared MFX-Cr aels. MFX-3 and MFX-6 were gelled with 45 ppm Cr(III) as described in Example 4. These materials were then sheared at 20,000 rpm for 30 sec in a"Waring"1 blender and allowed to reheal for 1.5 hours. The thermal stability of sheared/rehealed gels can be demonstrated by a comparison with two control xanthan-Cr gels also sheared and rehealed after one week at 91C (195F).
1. Trademark .;, .
MFX-3 MFX-6 Control 1 Control 2 Degree of 0 30 20 50 syneresis at 1 week 9 ~
Control 1 = 5000 ppm xanthan/45 ppm Cr.
Control 2 = 25no ppm xanthan/45 ppm Cr.
From the examples above, it is demonstrated that xanthan polymer's thermal stability has been substantially improved by reacting xanthan with amino-resins, especially melamine-formaldehyde resin even at amino-resin concentrations that are too low to gel the xanthan. This reaction with amino-resins does not alter the favorable properties of xanthan, such as shear stability, brine tolerance, shear thinning and gel forming with metals. Cr complexed xanthan gel when used for stratification control is thermally stable up to about 66C (150F). Metal complexed (Cr) melamine formaldehyde xanthan (MFX) gels are at least 25C (45F) more stable than xanthan-Cr gels. Furthermore, MFX-Cr gels retain the unique rehealing property of xanthan-Cr gels. Rehealing is an important property which allows the preformed gel to experience mechanical shear (i.e., to be injected into target zones) and then "reheal" to regain its gel structure.
Metallic ions which can be used to crosslink the MFX polymers in solution include zirconium, chromium, antimony and aluminum. The concentration of these transitional metals in the polymer solutions will of course vary depending upon the requirements for the particular application being used and the nature of the formation into which the crosslinked MFX gel is placed. In any event, the metal should be in an amount sufficient to obtain the desired gelling effect. Although the exact amount of the metal required will vary depending on the particular application, it is anticipated that the metals should be included within the gel in amounts of from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on xanthan. :
f-4072 _9_ 1 3 2 9 4 7 3 Where it is desired to obtain increased sweep efficiency, gels of this invention can be used to plug a previously swept portion of a formation. The gels can be directed to areas of increased porosity by utilization in any of the below methods.
One method where gels of this invention can be utilized is during a waterflooding process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean formatian. U.S. Patent No. 4,479,894, issued Octoker 30, 1984 to Chen et al, describes one such process. U.S. Patent No.
3r908,760 describes a polymer waterflooding process in which a gelled, 0 water-soluble Xanthomsnas polysaccharide i~ injected into a stratified reservDir to f~rm a slug, band or front of gel extending vertically across both high permeability and low permeability strata. This pat~nt also sugoests the use of complexed polysaccharides to block natural or man made fractures in formations.
Steamflood processes which can be utilized when employing the gels described herein are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,783 and 3,918,521 issued to Shu and Snavely, respectively.
Gels described herein can also be used in conjunction with a ~o miscible carbon dioxide drive in an oil recovery process to obtain greater sweep efficiency. A suitable process is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,565,249 which issued to Pebdani et al. Increased sweep efficiency can be obtained when the subject gels are used in a carbon dioxide process by lowering the carbon dioxide minimum miscibility pressure ("MMP") and recovering oil. Carbon dioxide MMP
in an oil recovery process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,821 issued to Shu.
Although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is tn be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims.
.
, . . ~
.. ,~.. ..
1. Trademark .;, .
MFX-3 MFX-6 Control 1 Control 2 Degree of 0 30 20 50 syneresis at 1 week 9 ~
Control 1 = 5000 ppm xanthan/45 ppm Cr.
Control 2 = 25no ppm xanthan/45 ppm Cr.
From the examples above, it is demonstrated that xanthan polymer's thermal stability has been substantially improved by reacting xanthan with amino-resins, especially melamine-formaldehyde resin even at amino-resin concentrations that are too low to gel the xanthan. This reaction with amino-resins does not alter the favorable properties of xanthan, such as shear stability, brine tolerance, shear thinning and gel forming with metals. Cr complexed xanthan gel when used for stratification control is thermally stable up to about 66C (150F). Metal complexed (Cr) melamine formaldehyde xanthan (MFX) gels are at least 25C (45F) more stable than xanthan-Cr gels. Furthermore, MFX-Cr gels retain the unique rehealing property of xanthan-Cr gels. Rehealing is an important property which allows the preformed gel to experience mechanical shear (i.e., to be injected into target zones) and then "reheal" to regain its gel structure.
Metallic ions which can be used to crosslink the MFX polymers in solution include zirconium, chromium, antimony and aluminum. The concentration of these transitional metals in the polymer solutions will of course vary depending upon the requirements for the particular application being used and the nature of the formation into which the crosslinked MFX gel is placed. In any event, the metal should be in an amount sufficient to obtain the desired gelling effect. Although the exact amount of the metal required will vary depending on the particular application, it is anticipated that the metals should be included within the gel in amounts of from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on xanthan. :
f-4072 _9_ 1 3 2 9 4 7 3 Where it is desired to obtain increased sweep efficiency, gels of this invention can be used to plug a previously swept portion of a formation. The gels can be directed to areas of increased porosity by utilization in any of the below methods.
One method where gels of this invention can be utilized is during a waterflooding process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean formatian. U.S. Patent No. 4,479,894, issued Octoker 30, 1984 to Chen et al, describes one such process. U.S. Patent No.
3r908,760 describes a polymer waterflooding process in which a gelled, 0 water-soluble Xanthomsnas polysaccharide i~ injected into a stratified reservDir to f~rm a slug, band or front of gel extending vertically across both high permeability and low permeability strata. This pat~nt also sugoests the use of complexed polysaccharides to block natural or man made fractures in formations.
Steamflood processes which can be utilized when employing the gels described herein are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,783 and 3,918,521 issued to Shu and Snavely, respectively.
Gels described herein can also be used in conjunction with a ~o miscible carbon dioxide drive in an oil recovery process to obtain greater sweep efficiency. A suitable process is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,565,249 which issued to Pebdani et al. Increased sweep efficiency can be obtained when the subject gels are used in a carbon dioxide process by lowering the carbon dioxide minimum miscibility pressure ("MMP") and recovering oil. Carbon dioxide MMP
in an oil recovery process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,821 issued to Shu.
Although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is tn be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims.
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Claims (9)
1. A process for controlling the permeability profile in the recovery of oil by closing pores in a hydrocarbonaceous fluid bearing formation to obtain improved sweep efficiency during a water flood or carbon dioxide oil recovery operation wherein the process comprises injecting into the formation a gellable composition comprising using a composition which comprises:
a) water b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer having at least one functional group selected from a member of the group consisting of an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group, said biopolymer being a member selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose derivatives, other polysaccharide biopolymers, and xanthan polymers;
c) about 0.02 to about 5.0 wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces said biopolymer said resin being soluble or dispersible in an aqueous medium; and d) from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of transitional metal ions, based on said biopolymer, sufficient to form a gel of a size and strength sufficient to close one or more permeable zones in said formation under substantially all pH conditions occurring in a subterranean hydrocarbonaceous formation, said gel being able to withstand high temperature and high salinity concentrations encountered in an oil reservoir.
a) water b) about 0.2 to about 5.0 wt. percent of a cross linkable polysaccharide biopolymer having at least one functional group selected from a member of the group consisting of an amine, an amide, a hydroxyl, and a thiol group, said biopolymer being a member selected from the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose derivatives, other polysaccharide biopolymers, and xanthan polymers;
c) about 0.02 to about 5.0 wt. percent of an aminoplast resin which reinforces said biopolymer said resin being soluble or dispersible in an aqueous medium; and d) from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of transitional metal ions, based on said biopolymer, sufficient to form a gel of a size and strength sufficient to close one or more permeable zones in said formation under substantially all pH conditions occurring in a subterranean hydrocarbonaceous formation, said gel being able to withstand high temperature and high salinity concentrations encountered in an oil reservoir.
2. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein said resin is a member selected from the group consisting of melamine-formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, ethylene urea formaldehyde, propylene urea formaldehyde, triazone, uran, and glyoxal.
3. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein the ratio of said biopolymer to aminoplast resin required for gelation is from about 0.1:1 to about 10:1.
4. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein said gel is of substantial stability sufficient to withstand high temperatures encountered in an oil reservoir for at least three months.
5. The process as recited in claim 1 where said gel is rehealable.
6. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein said resin can condense to form a cured resin.
7. The process as recited in claim 1 where said transitional metal ion is a member selected from the group consisting of zirconium, chromium, antimony and aluminum.
8. The process as recited in claim 1 wherein in step (d) said pH is 10 or less.
9. The process as recited in claim 1 where said gel is formed before injecting the composition, shears when injected into a formation, and subsequently reheals.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/922,916 US4716966A (en) | 1986-10-24 | 1986-10-24 | Amino resin modified xanthan polymer gels for permeability profile control |
| US922,916 | 1986-10-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1329473C true CA1329473C (en) | 1994-05-17 |
Family
ID=25447782
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000548463A Expired - Fee Related CA1329473C (en) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-10-02 | Amino resin modified xanthan polymer gels for permeability profile control |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4716966A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1329473C (en) |
Families Citing this family (33)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5003006A (en) * | 1985-01-31 | 1991-03-26 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Oil reservoir permeability control |
| US5015400A (en) * | 1986-10-09 | 1991-05-14 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Amino resins crosslinked polymer gels for permeability profile control |
| US4834180A (en) * | 1986-10-09 | 1989-05-30 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Amino resins crosslinked polymer gels for permeability profile control |
| US4822842A (en) * | 1987-02-03 | 1989-04-18 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Delaying the gelation of water soluble polymers |
| US4917185A (en) * | 1987-04-10 | 1990-04-17 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method to improve matrix acidizing in carbonates |
| US4793416A (en) * | 1987-06-30 | 1988-12-27 | Mobile Oil Corporation | Organic crosslinking of polymers for CO2 flooding profile control |
| US4830108A (en) * | 1988-01-04 | 1989-05-16 | Mobil Oil Corp. | Amino resin modified xanthan polymer foamed with a chemical blowing agent |
| US4899818A (en) * | 1988-05-23 | 1990-02-13 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method to improve use of polymers for injectivity profile control in enhanced oil recovery |
| US5236046A (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1993-08-17 | Texaco Inc. | Heteropolysaccharide preparation and use thereof as a mobility control agent in enhanced oil recovery |
| US4981520A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1991-01-01 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Oil reservoir permeability profile control with crosslinked welan gum biopolymers |
| US4991652A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1991-02-12 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Oil reservoir permeability profile control with crosslinked welan gum biopolymers |
| US4907656A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-03-13 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method for preventing steam channelling into a non-aquifer bottom water zone |
| US4903766A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-02-27 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Selective gel system for permeability profile control |
| US4903767A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-02-27 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Selective gelation polymer for profile control in CO2 flooding |
| US4963597A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-10-16 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Selective gel system for permeability profile control |
| US4903768A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1990-02-27 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method for profile control of enhanced oil recovery |
| US5071890A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1991-12-10 | Mobil Oil Corp. | Composition for selective placement of polymer gels for profile control in thermal oil recovery |
| US4940091A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1990-07-10 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method for selectively plugging a zone having varying permeabilities with a temperature activated gel |
| US4950698A (en) * | 1989-01-03 | 1990-08-21 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Composition for selective placement of polymer gels for profile control in thermal oil recovery |
| US4962814A (en) * | 1989-09-28 | 1990-10-16 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Optimization of cyclic steam in a reservoir with inactive bottom water |
| US4964461A (en) * | 1989-11-03 | 1990-10-23 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Programmed gelation of polymers using melamine resins |
| US5086089A (en) * | 1989-11-03 | 1992-02-04 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Programmed gelation of polymers using melamine resins |
| US5016713A (en) * | 1990-03-14 | 1991-05-21 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method of preheating a heavy oil zone through existing bottom water and then diverting steam into the oil zone |
| US5277830A (en) * | 1990-12-17 | 1994-01-11 | Mobil Oil Corporation | pH tolerant heteropolysaccharide gels for use in profile control |
| US5156214A (en) * | 1990-12-17 | 1992-10-20 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Method for imparting selectivity to polymeric gel systems |
| US5150754A (en) * | 1991-05-28 | 1992-09-29 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Aqueous and petroleum gel method for preventing water-influx |
| US7090745B2 (en) * | 2002-09-13 | 2006-08-15 | University Of Pittsburgh | Method for increasing the strength of a cellulosic product |
| US7494566B2 (en) * | 2002-09-13 | 2009-02-24 | University Of Pittsburgh - Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education | Composition for increasing cellulosic product strength and method of increasing cellulosic product strength |
| US7063176B2 (en) * | 2002-09-17 | 2006-06-20 | M-I L.L.C. | Membrane forming in-situ polymerization for water based drilling fluid |
| EP1725616A2 (en) * | 2004-02-27 | 2006-11-29 | University Of Pittsburgh | Networked polymeric gels and use of such polymeric gels in hydrocarbon recovery |
| US9790419B2 (en) | 2010-06-23 | 2017-10-17 | Schlumberger Technology Corporation | High temperature polymer gels for well treatments and their use |
| NO20110794A1 (en) | 2011-05-31 | 2012-12-03 | Goe Ip As | Procedure for Microbial Control of Injection Fluid in a Hydrocarbon Reservoir |
| GB201511218D0 (en) | 2015-06-25 | 2015-08-12 | Goe Ip As | Reservoir treatments |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3844349A (en) * | 1973-01-26 | 1974-10-29 | Mobil Oil Corp | Petroleum production by steam injection |
| US3908760A (en) * | 1973-10-09 | 1975-09-30 | Phillips Petroleum Co | Method of treating subterranean formations with aqueous gels |
| US4018286A (en) * | 1975-11-06 | 1977-04-19 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Controlled well plugging with dilute polymer solutions |
| US4210206A (en) * | 1977-10-07 | 1980-07-01 | Halliburton Company | High temperature well treating with crosslinked gelled solutions |
| US4157322A (en) * | 1978-01-19 | 1979-06-05 | Merck & Co., Inc., | Water diverting gel compositions |
| US4479894A (en) * | 1981-02-09 | 1984-10-30 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Oil recovery by surfactant-alcohol waterflooding |
| US4489783A (en) * | 1982-12-07 | 1984-12-25 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Viscous oil recovery method |
| US4485020A (en) * | 1983-08-16 | 1984-11-27 | Phillips Petroleum Company | Amine treatment of polysaccharide solution |
| US4565249A (en) * | 1983-12-14 | 1986-01-21 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Heavy oil recovery process using cyclic carbon dioxide steam stimulation |
| US4513821A (en) * | 1984-02-03 | 1985-04-30 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Lowering CO2 MMP and recovering oil using carbon dioxide |
| US4613631A (en) * | 1985-05-24 | 1986-09-23 | Mobil Oil Corporation | Crosslinked polymers for enhanced oil recovery |
-
1986
- 1986-10-24 US US06/922,916 patent/US4716966A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1987
- 1987-10-02 CA CA000548463A patent/CA1329473C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4716966A (en) | 1988-01-05 |
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