# US 11,993,745 B2 · Nanoparticle carrier platform and methods for controlled release of subterranean well treatment additives

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- Number: US 11,993,745 B2
- Document ID: US11993745B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/105,013
- Filed: 2023-02-02
- Published: 2023-11-23
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-03
- Assignees: ChampionX LLC
- Applicants: Championx LLC
- Inventors: Chao Yan; Ross Tomson; Paula Guraieb; Nasser Ghorbani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993745B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/536: characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. encapsulated material
- B01J 20/08: comprising aluminium oxide or hydroxide; comprising bauxite
- B01J 20/28004: {Sorbent size or size distribution, e.g. particle size}
- B01J 20/28007: {with size in the range 1-100 nanometers, e.g. nanosized particles, nanofibers, nanotubes, nanowires or the like (carbon nanostructures B01J20/205)}
- B01J 20/28016: {Particle form}
- B01J 20/3085: {Chemical treatments not covered by groups B01J20/3007 - B01J20/3078}
- C09K 8/03: Specific additives for general use in well-drilling compositions
- C09K 8/58: Compositions for enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons, i.e. for improving the mobility of the oil, e.g. displacing fluids
- C09K 8/50: Compositions for plastering borehole walls, i.e. compositions for temporary consolidation of borehole walls (compositions for consolidating loose sand or the like around wells C09K8/56)
- C09K 8/524: organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
- C09K 8/528: inorganic depositions, e.g. sulfates or carbonates
- C09K 2208/10: Nanoparticle-containing well treatment fluids
- C09K 2208/20: Hydrogen sulfide elimination
- C09K 2208/22: Hydrates inhibition by using well treatment fluids containing inhibitors of hydrate formers
- C09K 2208/26: Gel breakers other than bacteria or enzymes
- C09K 2208/28: Friction or drag reducing additives
- C09K 2208/32: Anticorrosion additives
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

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/[Mx1My2Mz3]OnHm 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 M1 can be aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), or thallium (Tl). M2 and M3 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mixed metal oxide nanoparticle comprising:
Mx1OnHm;
My2OnHm; and
Mz3OnHm,
where
M1, M2, and M3 are each in the crystal lattice structure of the nanoparticle,
M1 is a Column 13 element selected from aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), and thallium (Tl),
M2 and M3 are each individually a Column 2 metal, a Column 14 metal, or a transition metal, with the proviso that M2 and M3 are different,
x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.40, and z is 0 to 0.40, and
n and m for each of Mx1OnHm, My2OnHm, and Mz3OnHm is individually determined by the oxidation states of the metals M1, M2, and M3.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein M2 and M3 are each independently beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein M1 is Al, M2 is Mg, and M3 is calcium (Ca).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 1 nm to 10,000 nm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 4, wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 10 nm to 1000 nm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 5, wherein the nanoparticle has a diameter of 10 nm to 200 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle further comprises an additive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7, wherein the additive is capable of being released from the nanoparticle in a controlled manner over an extended period of time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7, 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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7, wherein the nanoparticle is impregnated with the additive.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 7, wherein the nanoparticle further comprises a coating, and wherein the additive is comprised in the coating.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal nanoparticle of claim 7, wherein the additive 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, or a friction reducer, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 12, wherein the additive is a scale inhibitor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The nanoparticle of claim 13, 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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The nanoparticle of claim 14, wherein the scale inhibitor is a polymer comprising sulfonated polycarboxylic acid functionality.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 12, wherein the additive is an asphaltene inhibitor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 7)

The mixed metal oxide of claim 7, wherein the additive is a subterranean treatment additive.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 17, wherein the additive is a well treatment additive.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein the nanoparticle comprises at least two additives, and wherein the at least two additives are different from each other.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A composition comprising a plurality of the nanoparticles of claim 1.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The composition of claim 20, wherein the composition is a fluid.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The composition of claim 20, wherein the composition is an aqueous liquid, and wherein the plurality of nanoparticles are suspended within the aqueous liquid.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The composition of claim 20, further comprising water.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The mixed metal oxide nanoparticle of claim 1, wherein z is 0.