Degradation profiles of poly(methylene oxide) and poly(glycolic acid) for inflow control devices in oil wells

Abstract

The viability of the application of hydrolysable polymers, such as poly(methylene oxide) (PMO) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), in formation treatments in oil wells, was studied; we examined their addition to inflow control devices (ICDs), which are instruments used to control the oil-flow profile along production intervals. Thereby, the structural and morphological changes of PMO and PGA samples exposed to common chemicals, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions and xylene, used in the procedure were evaluated under conditions similar to those observed in southeastern Brazilian offshore oil fields (temperature range 5 50-130 8C, 41.4 MPa). The aim of this study was to verify whether the polymers hydrolyzed and could be further removed from the ICDs. Techniques including high-pressure liquid chromatography, ion chromatography, 13 C-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy were applied in this study. Xylene did not produce expressive effects in the samples. PMO was significantly affected by 15% HCl at 75 8C but was not completely dissolved after 24 h of exposure; this counter indicates its use. The PGA hydrolysis profile in NaCl brine was suitable for application around 75 8C. V C 2016Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43786.

Poly(glycolic acid) (PGA): a versatile building block expanding high performance and sustainable bioplastic applications

“…PGA and poly (methylene oxide) (PMO) based inflow control devices (ICDs) were used in conditions mimicking Brazilian offshore oil wells by Pereira et al 110 ICDs in these wells can provide friction loss by channeling fluids (such as in acid treatments) through a designed set of holes. The imposed friction loss alters the natural formation flow profile during oil injection or production.…”