# US 2023/0055352 A1 · Re-crosslinkable particle for conformance control and temporary plugging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0055352 A1 - Document ID: US20230055352A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/791,619 - Filed: 2020-01-10 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-10 - Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri - Applicants: The Curators of the University of Missouri - Inventors: Yifu Long; Bowen Yu; Baojun Bai; Thomas Schuman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230055352A1 ## CPC - C09K 8/426: {for plugging} - E21B 33/13: Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like - C08F 8/30: Introducing nitrogen atoms or nitrogen-containing groups - C08F 220/56: Acrylamide; Methacrylamide - C09K 8/512: containing cross-linking agents - C09K 8/514: of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose (C09K8/512 takes precedence) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS ## Abstract The present invention generally relates to the composition of particle gels for conformance control, well drilling and well treatments. More particularly, this invention relates to swellable polymer particle gels that can re-crosslink, i.e., reassociate and self-heal, at subterranean conditions. These particle gels can be deployed to improve the conformance of water flooding of especially matrix bypass events (MBEs), that are also known as void space conduits. Moreover, these particle gels can be deployed for controlling the water production and increasing of petroleum recovery. The inventive particles can also be deployed as diverter for well stimulation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A swellable composition for controlling fluid flow, said swellable composition comprising a polymer matrix, a crosslinking agent, and re-crosslinking agent, wherein said polymer matrix comprises a monomer that is crosslinkable by said re-crosslinking agent at subterranean conditions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer is an amide monomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The swellable composition of claim 2, wherein said monomer is an amide monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methylacrylamide, N-tert-butylacrylamide, N-ethylacrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, N, N-diethylacrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-diethylacrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide, dimethylaminopropyl methacrylamide, N-vinyl formamide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer is selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The swellable composition of claim 4, wherein said monomer comprises a sodium or potassium salt of vinylsulfonate, vinyl sulfate, phenyl vinyl sulfonate, phenyl vinyl sulfate, and/or vinyl phosphate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer is 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt (Na-AMPS). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer comprises a cationic pendant group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer comprises diallyldimethylammonium chloride, (3-(methacryloylamino) propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, (2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride, and vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, dimethylaminoethylacrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt, dimethylaminoethylacrylate benzyl chloride quaternary salt, and/or dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate methyl chloride quaternary salt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer comprises a nonionic monomer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said monomer comprises hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethylacrylate (DMAEA), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEM), alkyl esters, α-olefins, vinyl alkylates, vinyl alkyl ethers, N-vinyl amides, and/or and alkyl aromatics. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said re-crosslinking agent comprises an oligosaccharide or polysaccharide comprising amino groups. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The swellable composition of claim 11, wherein said amino groups are at least 75% primary amines. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The swellable composition of claim 11, wherein said re-crosslinking agent is an aminated alginate, chitosan, aminated chitosan, a dextran amine, aminated cellulose, aminated guaran, and complexes thereof with a multivalent metal ion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The swellable composition of claim 13, wherein said re-crosslinking agent is chitosan or aminated chitosan. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said crosslinking agent comprises a divinyl monomer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The swellable composition of claim 15, wherein said crosslinking monomer comprises methylene bisacrylamide, divinyl sulfone, diethyleneglycol diallyl ether, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The swellable composition of claim 16, wherein said crosslinking monomer comprises methylene bisacrylamide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said crosslinking agent comprises diacrylyl tertiary amide, diacrylylpiperazine, diallyltartardiamide, dihydroxyethylene-bis-acrylamide, bis-acrylylcystamine, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, propyleneglycol triacrylate, tripropyleneglycol diacrylate, allyl methacrylate, triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said crosslinking agent comprises a multifunctional crosslinker. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The swellable composition of claim 19, wherein said crosslinking agent comprises pentaerythritol triacrylate, 1,5 pentane diol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triallylether, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more additives, wherein said one or more additives comprise a chelating agent, a rheological modifier, a nanomaterial, a biocide, an oxygen scavenger, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The swellable composition of claim 21, wherein said one or more additives comprises a chelating agent and/or an oxygen scavenger. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The swellable composition of claim 1, wherein said polymer matrix is substantially free of CO2-philic moieties. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A method of forming the swellable composition of claim 1, said method comprising: (a) polymerizing said monomer in the presence of said crosslinking agent and said re-crosslinking agent to form said polymer matrix and embed said re-crosslinking agent within said polymer matrix; (b) drying said polymer matrix to form a dried polymer matrix; and (c) grinding said dried polymer matrix to form said swellable composition. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said polymerizing of step (a) occurs at a temperature of at least 20° C. and/or less than 200° C. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said polymerizing of step (a) comprises ultrasonication. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said ultrasonication occurs for at least 10 minutes and/or less than 6 hours. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein said polymerizing of step (a) occurs for at least 1 hour and/or less than 18 hours. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A method of forming a gel formation in a target zone of a subterranean environment, said method comprising: (a) dispersing the swellable composition of claim 1 into a carrier fluid, thereby causing said swellable composition to swell; and (b) introducing said carrier fluid comprising said swellable composition into said target zone having a temperature of at least 50° C., thereby causing said re-crosslinking agent to react with said monomer and form said gel formation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, produced water, sea water, brine, and drilling fluid. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said subterranean environment is selected from the group consisting of wells and pipelines. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said target zone is selected from the group consisting of fractures, conduits, lost-circulation zones, cavernous formations, high-permeability zones, wellbores, and perforations. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein said swellable composition is in the form of particles having an initial average particle size prior to said contact and wherein upon contact with said fluid, said particles swell to a second average particle size that is at least about 5 times greater than that of the initial average particle size. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein said particles exhibit less than about 20 percent decrease in volume after exposure to said subterranean environment for 1 day.