A novel temperature-sensitive expandable lost circulation material based on shape memory epoxy foams to prevent losses in geothermal drilling. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cui, Kaixiao; Jiang, Guancheng; Xie, Chunlin; Yang, Lili; He, Yinbo; Shen, Xiulun; Wang, Xingxing
• Is Part Of: Geothermics. Volume 95(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Lost circulation -- Lost circulation materials -- Shape memory epoxy polymer -- Shape memory epoxy foam -- Temperature-sensitive; Hydrogeology -- Periodicals; Geothermal resources -- Periodicals; Énergie géothermique -- Périodiques; GEOTHERMAL ENGINEERING; GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION; Geothermal resources; Hydrogeology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2021.102145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0375-6505

Abstract

Highlights: The applications of shape memory polymer in petroleum industry were reviewed. Lost circulation materials based on shape memory epoxy foams (SMP-LCM) with temperature response and expandable properties were designed and synthesized. The shape memory mechanism of shape memory epoxy foams used to prepare SMP-LCMs was revealed. The plugging experiment demonstrated that the SMP-LCMs were effective in loss control. Abstract: Lost circulation will inevitably increase non-productive time (NPT) and well cost. The application of high-efficiency lost circulation materials (LCMs) plays an indispensable role in preventing and mitigating loss. The development of new LCMs based on stimuli-responsive materials is an important research direction and it is expected to realize the revolutionary development of LCMs. In recent years, the temperature-responsive plugging agent based on shape memory polymers has caused a lot of attention. In this paper, based on the shape memory epoxy polymer (SMEP) and hollow glass beads (HGBs), a shape memory epoxy foam (SMEF) was successfully synthesized. The results show that the shape memory temperature (51.6 °C - 97.5 °C) of the SMEPs has a good linear relationship with the content of curing agent 4, 4′-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM) (12% - 20%), and the expansion ratio (0% - 120.2%) of the SMEFs has a good linear relationship with the content of HGBs (0% - 50%). The mechanism of the SMEFs was proposed. A novel temperature-sensitive and expandable plugging agent (SMP-LCM) has been developed. The plugging experiment shows that SMP-LCM has a good plugging effect on high permeability loss zone simulated by sand beds. Compared with conventional LCMs (e.g., nutshells or fibers), SMP-LCMs can eliminate the risk of plugging of downhole drilling tools and enhance the plugging effect. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract