Polymer-sand nanocomposite lost circulation material
AssigneesAlfaisal University, Saudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAyman Almohsin, Edreese Alsharaeh, Mohan Raj Krishnan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a barrier to overcome lost circulation in a subterranean formation. The method includes injecting a polymer-sand nanocomposite into one or more lost circulation zones in the subterranean formation where the polymer-sand nanocomposite is formed from sand mixed with a polymer hydrogel. Further, the polymer hydrogel includes a hydrogel polymer, an organic cross-linker, and a salt. The sand additionally comprises a surface modification. The associated method of preparing a polymer-sand nanocomposite lost circulation material for utilisation in forming the barrier is provided.
Claims14
A method of preparing a polymer-sand nanocomposite lost circulation material, the method comprising:
- applying a surface modification comprising attachment of an organic cross-linker to the surface of sand particles by:
- preparing a cross-linker solution comprising one or more organic cross-linkers;
- combining the cross-linker solution and the sand particles to generate a cross-linker modified sand precursor;
- and
- heating the cross-linker modified sand precursor to a temperature of 120 to 180° C. for at least 2 hours to generate a cross-linker modified sand;
- preparing a polymer hydrogel by combining a hydrogel polymer, additional organic cross-linker, and a salt;
- and
- combining the polymer hydrogel and the cross-linker modified sand to form the polymer-sand nanocomposite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.