Electro-responsive hydrogel for reservoir and downhole application
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsAmr Abdel-Fattah, Hala Sadeg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electro-responsive hydrogel particles are flowed into a first wellbore formed in a subterranean formation. An electric circuit is established between the first wellbore and a second wellbore formed in the subterranean formation. An electric current is applied through the electric circuit, thereby exposing the electro-responsive hydrogel particles to an electric field and causing at least one of swelling or aggregation of the electro-responsive hydrogel particles to form a flow-diverting plug within the subterranean formation. Water is flowed into the first wellbore to increase hydrocarbon production from the second wellbore.
Claims10
1-11. (canceled)
A method for producing an electro-responsive hydrogel for use in a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- forming an inverse emulsion of acrylic acid and magnesium aluminum phyllosilicate dispersed in a continuous phase of toluene;
- and
- polymerizing the acrylic acid of the inverse emulsion to form the electro-responsive hydrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.