Swellable Packers and Methods for Activating Swellable Packers in a Downhole Environment

A method for producing a swellable packer in a downhole environment, comprising:

• introducing a treatment fluid comprising a polymeric composition and an acid precursor into a wellbore within the downhole environment, wherein the polymeric composition comprises a reaction product of at least:
• a monomer having the chemical formula:
• wherein:
• each R1 is independently a C1-C10 alkyl,
• R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group, and
• m is an integral in a range from 1 to 5;
• a comonomer having the chemical formula:
• R3—CH═CH2,
• wherein:
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• a crosslinker having the chemical formula:
• wherein:
• each R4 is independently a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• n is an integral in a range from 1 to 5;
• and
• forming an acid from the acid precursor within the downhole environment;
• and
• exposing the polymeric composition to the acid to produce a swollen polymeric material within the downhole environment.

A method for producing a swellable packer in a downhole environment, comprising:

• introducing a treatment fluid comprising a polymeric composition and an acid precursor into a wellbore within the downhole environment, wherein the polymeric composition comprises a reaction product of at least:
• a monomer having the chemical formula:
• wherein:
• each R1 is independently a C1-C10 alkyl,
• R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group, and
• m is an integral in a range from 1 to 5;
• a comonomer having the chemical formula:
• R3—CH═CH2,
• wherein:
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• a crosslinker having the chemical formula:
• wherein:
• each R4 is independently a substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched, cyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic hydrocarbyl group;
• and
• n is an integral in a range from 1 to 5;
• and
• forming an acid from the acid precursor within the downhole environment;
• exposing the polymeric composition to the acid to produce a swollen polymeric material within the downhole environment;
• forming a plug comprising the swollen polymeric material, wherein the downhole environment comprises a formation comprising a passageway, wherein the plug is in contact with the formation within the passageway and blocks fluid communication between the passageway and the wellbore;
• perform a drilling or production process in the wellbore;
• and subsequently
• exposing the swollen polymeric material to an alkaline or oxidizing agent to remove the plug and open fluid communication between the passageway and the wellbore.