Multifunctional fluorescent polymer-clay composite tracers

Abstract

Compositions and methods for determining the origin location of a subterranean sample are provided. Compositions include a polymer-clay composite tag. The tag includes a nanoclay including a plurality of layers, and a polymer intercalated between the layers of the nanoclay. The polymer is functionalized with a fluorescent dye. A method to determine the origin location of a subterranean sample includes mixing a barcoded polymer-clay composite tag into a fluid, flowing the fluid through a work string into a subterranean formation, recovering subterranean samples from the subterranean formation, and determining the origin location of the subterranean sample by detecting the presence of the barcoded polymer-clay composite tag.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.