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Gels
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Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid
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Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid

A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2024 | Viewed by 8131

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Jintang Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: oil-based drilling fluid; gel for oil-based drilling fluid; molecular simulation; adsorptions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Gels, entitled “Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid”, is dedicated to recent developments in areas ranging from theoretical and fundamental aspects to the synthesis, characterization, and applications of oil-based drilling fluid and their key agents. Within this context, a broad range of subjects, including structure and dynamics, molecular modeling and simulation, and applications will be discussed.

During the preceding decades, the unprecedented and rapid globalization has accelerated the need for petroleum and gas. For the drilling industry, the deep and ultradeep reservoirs have become among the most important targets in order to increase oil and gas production. However, the agents or drilling fluid used in conventional drilling are not suitable for the harsh conditions of the deep and ultradeep reservoirs. As such, researchers must develop novel high-performance drilling fluid for use in the deep and ultradeep reservoirs. In particular, drilling and fracture can cause serious formation damage without suitable pretreatment. It will become more difficult to recover enough oil and gas without sufficiently advanced petroleum and gas exploration technology. Thus, to maintain stable oil and gas production, it is necessary to systematically conduct extensive research on oil-based drilling fluids and related treatment agents. Gels are widely used in oil-based drilling fluids to improve the performance of drilling fluids. A quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of gels in oil-based drilling fluids, as well as technology trends, will be essential for optimizing oil-based drilling fluids and facilitating deep oil and gas drilling.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the synthesis, application, and mechanism of novel materials and technology for the petroleum industry. Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

  • Synthesis and characterization of gel polymers;
  • The applications of gels in oil-based drilling fluid;
  • Seepage pattern of oil-based drilling fluid with gels;
  • Gel–reservoir interactions;
  • Molecular simulation.

Dr. Jintang Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Gels is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • synthesis and characterization of gel polymers
  • the applications of gels in oil-based drilling fluid
  • seepage pattern of oil-based drilling fluid with gels
  • gel–reservoir interactions
  • molecular simulation

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 5027 KiB  
Article
Development of Multiple Crosslinked Polymers and Its Application in Synthetic-Based Drilling Fluids
by Jun Yang, Tengfei Dong, Jingtian Yi and Guancheng Jiang
Gels 2024, 10(2), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10020120 - 02 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1016
Abstract
This study addresses the performance challenges of Synthetic-Based Drilling Fluids (SBDF) in deep wells and high-temperature environments by engineering a novel multiple hydrogen-bonded crosslinked polymer, MBAH/nano-SiO2. Synthesized using methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl methacrylate (BMA), acrylic acid (AA), N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA), and [...] Read more.
This study addresses the performance challenges of Synthetic-Based Drilling Fluids (SBDF) in deep wells and high-temperature environments by engineering a novel multiple hydrogen-bonded crosslinked polymer, MBAH/nano-SiO2. Synthesized using methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl methacrylate (BMA), acrylic acid (AA), N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA), and nano-silica (nano-SiO2), the polymer improved crosslinking density, thermal properties, particle size distribution, and colloidal stability. The development of a ‘weak gel’ structure in W/O emulsions improved rheology and electrical stability (ES), with ES values reaching up to 775 V after aging at 180 °C. Moreover, the polymer’s amphiphilic structure and the synergistic effect of nano-SiO2 increased emulsion film thickness and strength, further augmenting stability. The high-temperature and high-pressure filtration loss of SBDF was considerably reduced to 7.6 mL, benefiting well wall stability and reservoir damage control. This study provides crucial insights into optimizing multiple hydrogen-bonded crosslinked strategies and polymers in SBDF applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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16 pages, 3980 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Low-Molecular-Weight Polyacrylamide as the Delayed Crosslinking Plugging Agent for Drilling Fluid
by Quanyang Wang, Chenghua Zhou, Honghu Zhang, Xue Zhang, Xinxin Wen, Jiexin Bai and Hui Mao
Gels 2024, 10(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10020112 - 01 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1013
Abstract
Deep wells and ultra-deep wells often encounter cracks, karst caves, and other developed strata, which can lead to leakage during drilling. Conventional bridge slurry plugging technology is prone to leaking due to the poor plugging effect of the plugging agent. The gel plugging [...] Read more.
Deep wells and ultra-deep wells often encounter cracks, karst caves, and other developed strata, which can lead to leakage during drilling. Conventional bridge slurry plugging technology is prone to leaking due to the poor plugging effect of the plugging agent. The gel plugging agent possesses characteristics of flexible plugging and adaptive matching of formation leakage channels. It can fill cracks or caves and enhance the pressure-bearing capacity of the formation. A controllable crosslinking plugging agent based on low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide was studied. Polyacrylamide with different molecular weights is synthesized from acrylamide and an initiator. A crosslinking time-controllable polymer is synthesized from low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide by adding crosslinking agent and retarder. The low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide plugging agent has low viscosity before gelation and good fluidity in the wellbore. After being configured on the ground, it is transported by pipeline and sent underground to reach the thickening condition. The gel solution rapidly solidifies, and its strength improves after high-temperature crosslinking. The synthesis conditions of the polymer were as follows: a monomer concentration of 9%, initiator 3.5%, synthesis temperature of 65 °C, and hydrogen peroxide initiator. The optimal formula of the gel plugging agent is as follows: a polymer concentration of 6%, a crosslinking agent concentration of 1%, and a retarder concentration of 8%. The generated polymer molecular structure contains amide groups. This crosslinking time-controllable plugging agent based on low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide has stable rheology, and its temperature resistance can reach 150 °C. At 150 °C, the gelation time can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of retarder, and the longest can reach 4 h. The plugging efficiency of the gel plugging agent is more than 95%. With the increase in seam width, the pressure of the gel plugging agent gradually decreases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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17 pages, 4780 KiB  
Article
Development and Application of the Anti-High-Temperature Delayed Crosslinking Polymer as a Gel Plugging Additive for Drilling Fluid
by Quanyang Wang, Jing Cai, Jiannan Wang, Chenghua Zhou, Xinxin Wen, Jiang Zhang and Hui Mao
Gels 2024, 10(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010073 - 18 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 991
Abstract
With the gradual deepening of the exploration and development of deep and ultra-deep oil and gas resources, the problem of lost circulation in drilling operations is becoming more and more complex. From field experience, conventional plugging materials cannot fully meet the technical requirements [...] Read more.
With the gradual deepening of the exploration and development of deep and ultra-deep oil and gas resources, the problem of lost circulation in drilling operations is becoming more and more complex. From field experience, conventional plugging materials cannot fully meet the technical requirements of plugging operations in drilling engineering. In this study, a high-temperature- and salt-resistant polymer HDZ−A was synthesized. A high-temperature and delayed crosslinking polymer gel plugging agent can be prepared by adding a certain concentration of a crosslinking agent and a retarder. In this paper, the optimum synthesis conditions of the HDZ−A were determined with orthogonal experiments using viscoelasticity and viscosity as evaluation criteria for newly developed polymers. The molecular structure, temperature resistance, and relative molecular mass of HDZ−A were determined using infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. In addition, the optimal formula of the gel plugging agent was determined using gel strength as the evaluation standard. The results show that the newly developed gel plugging agent has stable performance after high-temperature crosslinking, and can resist high temperatures of 160 °C during formation. Under conditions of 160 °C, the gelation time can reach 4.5 h, and the plugging efficiency can reach more than 97%. Finally, the field test of the newly developed high-temperature-resistant delayed crosslinking polymer gel plugging agent was carried out in the direct exploration well KT-14X in the Ordos Basin. The field test showed that the plugging effect of the HDZ−A gel plugging agent was remarkable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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19 pages, 5261 KiB  
Article
An Amphiphilic Multiblock Polymer as a High-Temperature Gelling Agent for Oil-Based Drilling Fluids and Its Mechanism of Action
by Yinbo He, Mingliang Du, Jing He, Haiyang Liu, Yanhua Lv, Lei Guo, Peng Zhang and Yunhai Bai
Gels 2023, 9(12), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9120966 - 09 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1041
Abstract
Oil-based drilling fluids are widely used in challenging wells such as those with large displacements, deepwater and ultra-deepwater wells, deep wells, and ultra-deep wells due to their excellent temperature resistance, inhibition properties, and lubrication. However, there is a challenging issue of rheological deterioration [...] Read more.
Oil-based drilling fluids are widely used in challenging wells such as those with large displacements, deepwater and ultra-deepwater wells, deep wells, and ultra-deep wells due to their excellent temperature resistance, inhibition properties, and lubrication. However, there is a challenging issue of rheological deterioration of drilling fluids under high-temperature conditions. In this study, a dual-amphiphilic segmented high-temperature-resistant gelling agent (HTR-GA) was synthesized using poly fatty acids and polyether amines as raw materials. Experimental results showed that the initial decomposition temperature of HTR-GA was 374 °C, indicating good thermal stability. After adding HTR-GA, the emulsion coalescence voltage increased for emulsions with different oil-to-water ratios. HTR-GA could construct a weak gel structure in oil-based drilling fluids, significantly enhancing the shear-thinning and thixotropic properties of oil-based drilling fluids under high-temperature conditions. Using HTR-GA as the core, a set of oil-based drilling fluid systems with good rheological properties, a density of 2.2 g/cm3, and temperature resistance up to 220 °C were constructed. After aging for 24 h at 220 °C, the dynamic shear force exceeded 10 Pa, and G′ exceeded 7 Pa, while after aging for 96 h at 220 °C, the dynamic shear force exceeded 4 Pa, and G″ reached 7 Pa. The synthesized compound HTR-GA has been empirically validated to significantly augment the rheological properties of oil-based drilling fluids, particularly under high-temperature conditions, showcasing impressive thermal stability with a resistance threshold of up to 220 °C. This notable enhancement provides critical technical reinforcement for progressive exploration endeavors in deep and ultra-deep well formations, specifically employing oil-based drilling fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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14 pages, 8513 KiB  
Article
Effect of Low Gravity Solids on Weak Gel Structure and the Performance of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
by Haokun Shen, Jinsheng Sun, Kaihe Lv, Meichun Li, Yuan Geng, Zheng Yang, Xianbin Huang, Hongyan Du and Muhammad Arqam Khan
Gels 2023, 9(9), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9090729 - 08 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1189
Abstract
Drilling cuttings from the rock formation generated during the drilling process are generally smashed to fine particles through hydraulic cutting and grinding using a drilling tool, and then are mixed with the drilling fluid during circulation. However, some of these particles are too [...] Read more.
Drilling cuttings from the rock formation generated during the drilling process are generally smashed to fine particles through hydraulic cutting and grinding using a drilling tool, and then are mixed with the drilling fluid during circulation. However, some of these particles are too small and light to be effectively removed from the drilling fluid via solids-control equipment. These small and light solids are referred to as low gravity solids (LGSs). This work aimed to investigate the effect of LGSs on the performance of oil-based drilling fluid (OBDF), such as the rheological properties, high-temperature and high-pressure filtration loss, emulsion stability, and filter cake quality. The results show that when the content of LGSs reached or even exceeded the solid capacity limit of the OBDF, the rheological parameters including the plastic viscosity, gel strength, and thixotropy of OBDF increased significantly. Furthermore, the filtration of OBDF increases, the filter cake becomes thicker, the friction resistance becomes larger, and the stability of emulsion of OBDF also decreases significantly when the concentration of LGSs reached the solid capacity limit of OBDF (6–9 wt% commonly). It was also found that LGSs with a smaller particle size had a more pronounced negative impact on the drilling fluid performance. This work provides guidance for understanding the impact mechanism of LGSs on drilling fluid performance and regulating the performance of OBDF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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Review

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31 pages, 7143 KiB  
Review
Functional Gels and Chemicals Used in Oil and Gas Drilling Engineering: A Status and Prospective
by Keqing Yang, Yingrui Bai, Jiayun Ma, Jinsheng Sun, Yuan Liu and Youming Lang
Gels 2024, 10(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10010047 - 09 Jan 2024
Viewed by 960
Abstract
Research into functional gels and chemicals and their applications represents a cutting-edge international field of study. For example, investigating how they can be applied in oil and gas drilling (and extraction engineering) and developing novel functional chemical materials for the oil field could [...] Read more.
Research into functional gels and chemicals and their applications represents a cutting-edge international field of study. For example, investigating how they can be applied in oil and gas drilling (and extraction engineering) and developing novel functional chemical materials for the oil field could provide innovative solutions and technological methods for oil and gas drilling and extraction operations. Through a literature analysis, this paper presents a review of the current research status and application scenarios of different types of functional gels and chemicals, both domestically and internationally. The classification and preparation principles of various functional materials are systematically outlined and the current applications of functional gels and chemicals in oil and gas drilling and extraction engineering are introduced. These applications include drilling and plugging, enhanced oil recovery, water plugging, and profile control. The formation mechanisms and application scenarios of different types of gels and chemicals are also analyzed and summarized, with a discussion of their prospects in oil and gas drilling and extraction engineering. We broaden the scope of functional gels and chemicals by exploring new application fields and promoting the development of different types of gels and chemicals in a more intelligent direction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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20 pages, 4124 KiB  
Review
Review of the Perspectives and Study of Thermo-Responsive Polymer Gels and Applications in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids
by Jintang Wang, Lei Liu, Siyang Zhang, Bo Liao, Ke Zhao, Yiyao Li, Jiaqi Xu and Longqiao Chen
Gels 2023, 9(12), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels9120969 - 11 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1073
Abstract
Thermoresponsive polymer gels are a type of intelligent material that can react to changes in temperature. These materials possess excellent innovative properties and find use in various fields. This paper systematically analyzes the methods for testing and regulating phase transition temperatures of thermo-responsive [...] Read more.
Thermoresponsive polymer gels are a type of intelligent material that can react to changes in temperature. These materials possess excellent innovative properties and find use in various fields. This paper systematically analyzes the methods for testing and regulating phase transition temperatures of thermo-responsive polymer gels based on their response mechanism. The report thoroughly introduces the latest research on thermo-responsive polymer gels in oil and gas extraction, discussing their advantages and challenges across various environments. Additionally, it elucidates how the application limitations of high-temperature and high-salt conditions can be resolved through process optimization and material innovation, ultimately broadening the scope of application of thermo-responsive polymer gels in oil and gas extraction. The article discusses the technological development and potential applications of thermo-responsive polymer gels in oil-based drilling fluids. This analysis aims to offer researchers in the oil and gas industry detailed insights into future possibilities for thermo-responsive polymer gels and to provide helpful guidance for their practical use in oil-based drilling fluids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gel for Oil-Based Drilling Fluid)
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