Experimental Study on High-Performers Quaternary Copolymer Based on Host-Guest Effect.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Petroleum Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced polymers is crucial for optimizing oilfield operations.
• Existing polymers often face limitations in harsh reservoir conditions, such as high temperature and salinity.
• Host-guest interactions offer a promising strategy to enhance polymer performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel quaternary polymer (HGP) utilizing host-guest chemistry.
• To evaluate the performance of HGP in simulated oilfield conditions, focusing on rheological properties and stability.
• To assess the potential of HGP as a functional fluid in oilfield applications.

Main Methods:

• Free-radical polymerization of acrylamide, acrylic acid, maleic anhydride functionalized β-cyclodextrin (MAH-β-CD), and N-(3-methacrylamidopropyl)-N, N-dimethylnaphthalen-1-aminium chloride (NAP).
• Investigation of host-guest interactions at varying molar ratios, particularly focusing on a 1:1 ratio of NAP and cyclodextrin.
• Evaluation of polymer solubility, salt tolerance, shear resistance, and viscoelasticity.
• Rheological property assessment of HGP solutions at elevated temperatures (120 °C) simulating reservoir conditions.

Main Results:

• The synthesized quaternary polymer (HGP) effectively utilizes host-guest interactions, with optimal performance at a 1:1 molar ratio of NAP and cyclodextrin.
• HGP exhibits enhanced solubility compared to hydrophobically associative polymers.
• The polymer demonstrates superior salt tolerance, shear resistance, and viscoelasticity due to the incorporated host-guest strategy.
• HGP solutions display favorable rheological properties at 120 °C, mimicking formation water distribution in the Bohai SZ1-1 oilfield.

Conclusions:

• The developed HGP polymer, leveraging host-guest chemistry, presents a significant advancement in functional fluid design for oilfield applications.
• Its enhanced properties, including solubility, stability, and rheology under reservoir conditions, position it as a competitive candidate for fracturing, displacement, and drilling fluids.
• The host-guest strategy provides a viable pathway for creating high-performance polymers tailored for demanding oil and gas extraction environments.