This technology employs novel siloxane-based aromatic trisurea compounds featuring a central aromatic ring bonded to three urea groups, each attached to propyl-siloxane chains. These chains can include trimethylsiloxy groups or larger siloxane rings, providing versatility in molecular structure that enhances viscosity modulation in dense CO2 and natural gas liquids. Synthesized through multi-step processes—such as Curtius rearrangement and targeted coupling reactions—the process yields materials capable of significantly increasing fluid viscosity. Variations include a pale yellow solid that offers viscosity enhancements up to 320 times, a hyperbranched waxy variant achieving a 15% increase at 1 wt% concentration, and a mixed composition increasing viscosity between 5 and 30 times under specific conditions.
Description
What differentiates this technology is its tailored molecular design, which addresses key operational challenges in enhanced oil recovery and fracturing operations by mitigating issues like fluid "fingering." Its exceptional solubility in CO2, even at low concentrations and under varying pressures, minimizes the need for excessive co-solvents. Moreover, the structural versatility allows for fine-tuning of performance characteristics, marking a substantial improvement over traditional thickening agents in efficiency and operational applicability.
Applications
- Enhanced oil recovery
- Fracturing fluid additives
- CO2 thickening agent
Advantages
- Significantly enhances the viscosity of scCO2 and natural gas liquids (up to 320 times), leading to more efficient oil recovery and enhanced proppant transport in fracturing operations.
- Maintains good solubility in CO2, reducing the need for large amounts of co-solvents and ensuring effective performance under various conditions.
- Offers structural versatility through tunable siloxane modifications, allowing for optimization of viscosity based on pressure, temperature, and concentration.
- Addresses critical issues like inefficient extraction due to "fingering" in low-viscosity fluids, leading to improved overall recovery processes.
- Supports advanced energy technologies by potentially reducing environmental impacts through more efficient and targeted resource utilization.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US9957438B2
