Crosslinked, flexible, low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide gels for mobility control
Hiu Ching Kelvin Gao · 1989
This project is a continuation of a research program initiated in FY88 to develop shear-resistant flexible gels based on crosslinking a low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide for mobility control. Polyacrylamide was crosslinked with aluminum citrate and chromium citrate. This report is divided into three parts: (1) gelation tests, (2) shear degradation and rehealability tests, and (3) porous media studies. Gelation tests showed that crosslinked low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide gels for mobility control can be formulated at pH = 7.0 using a low-molecular-weight polyacrylamide polymer, HPAM1 (molecular weight = 400,000 daltons) at concentrations from 10,000 to 20,000 ppM and a crosslinker, aluminum citrate, at aluminum concentrations from 150 to 2,400 ppM. Porous media studies showed that weak gels were injectable through porous media. Shear degradation tests for a weak gel in a porous medium (permeability = 197 darcies) consisting of a pack of five 100-mesh stainless steel screens showed that crosslinked bonds were broken under a high shear condition and rehealed under a low shear condition. 14 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.