Composition and method for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean reservoir
First Claim
1. An expandable polymeric microparticle composition comprising an interpenetrating polymer network wherein the interpenetrating polymer network comprises one or more labile polymers and wherein the expandable polymeric microparticles have an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles comprising an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). The IPN constrains the microparticle to an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns. Labile cross-links in the polymers of the IPN are subject to degradation, which results in release of the expandable microparticle so that the microparticle expands. The invention is further directed to the use of the composition for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations and increasing the mobilization and/or recovery rate of hydrocarbon fluids present in the formations.
-
Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An expandable polymeric microparticle composition comprising an interpenetrating polymer network wherein the interpenetrating polymer network comprises one or more labile polymers and wherein the expandable polymeric microparticles have an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns.
- 10. A method of modifying the permeability to water of a subterranean formation, comprising injecting into the subterranean formation an expandable polymeric microparticle composition comprising an interpenetrating polymer network wherein the expandable polymeric microparticles have an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns and wherein the expandable polymeric microparticles have a smaller diameter than the pores of the subterranean formation and wherein the expandable polymeric microparticles expand under a change in environmental conditions in the subterranean formation.
Specification