Effect of the nanoparticles in the stability of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide/resorcinol/formaldehyde gel systems for water shut‐off/conformance control applications

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to evaluate the inclusion of nanoparticles to partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide/resorcinol/formaldehyde gel systems to improve the stability under static and dynamic conditions. Oxide nanoparticles (<100 mgÁL −1 ) of SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , MgO, and Cr 2 O 3 were employed and characterized by their physicochemical properties. Gels were prepared and subsequently placed at 70 C for evaluating the nanoparticles influence in gel strength through rheological properties and syneresis measurements. Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles showed the highest potential for the reduction of the syneresis phenomena, followed by MgO and Cr 2 O 3 . The SiO 2 nanoparticles lead to a higher degradation of the gel. As the zeta potential increases, the syneresis of the gel system decreases. The nanoparticles did not significantly affect the storage modulus, describing similar gel strength than the original gel. Also, displacement tests showed an incremental of 64% of oil recovery regarding the system in the absence of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles.Jia et al. 15 developed an experimental investigation about resorcinol/phenol-formaldehyde crosslinking HPAM (0.3 wt %) gel system and found that by varying resorcinol concentration between 10 and 30 mgÁL −1 and phenol-formaldehyde between 0.4 and 1.2 wt %, a barely flowing gel (codes D and E according to Sydansk's scale from A to I, 16 respectively) was obtained at a Additional Supporting Information may be found in the online version of this article.

Nanotechnology Applied to Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes: A Review

“…In addition, higher oil recovery values are observed in the presence of nanoparticles as shown in Figure 20b [199]. Displacement tests showed that inclusion of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles to partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide/resorcinol/formaldehyde gel systems increases 64% of oil recovery in comparison with the system in the absence of nanoparticles [199]. Furthermore, the enhancement of the thermal stability and viscoelastic properties by effect of the addition of zirconium (IV) hydroxide (Zr(OH) 4 ) nanoparticles to organically crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels using hydroquinone (HQ) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) have been reported [200].…”

“…Recent works have reported that the inclusion of nanoparticles to gels improve its stability and viscoelastic properties stability under static and dynamic conditions [199,200]. In addition, higher oil recovery values are observed in the presence of nanoparticles as shown in Figure 20b [199]. Displacement tests showed that inclusion of Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles to partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide/resorcinol/formaldehyde gel systems increases 64% of oil recovery in comparison with the system in the absence of nanoparticles [199].…”

“…In general, the gels have limitations such as degradation by the effect of harsh reservoir as well as the adsorption of the chemicals over the rock [198]. Recent works have reported that the inclusion of nanoparticles to gels improve its stability and viscoelastic properties stability under static and dynamic conditions [199,200]. In addition, higher oil recovery values are observed in the presence of nanoparticles as shown in Figure 20b [199].…”

“…(b) Oil recovery through waterflooding before (Step 1) and after (Step 2) the injection of gel in the absence (GEL) and presence (GEL + Al2O3) of Al2O3 nanoparticles. Reprinted with permission [199]; Copyright 2018, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.…”

Effect of Nanoparticles with Different Chemical Nature on the Stability and Rheology of Acrylamide Sodium Acrylate Copolymer/Chromium (III) Acetate Gel for Conformance Control Operations

“…(Sabaneta, Colombia), respectively. Full characterization and synthesis methods of Cr 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , and MgO nanoparticles can be found in our previous work [30], and some nanoparticle properties are summarized in Table 1.…”