Oil Field Chemicals

There is a growing demand for chemicals designed for specific applications, especially in the challenging area of oil field chemistry. A broad range of chemicals are used to prevent the formation of gas hydrates, scale and other precipitates and to prevent corrosion. Water-soluble polymers are used as viscosifiers and as gelling systems for potential water shut-off and profile modifications. Such polymers are also used in drilling muds.

The amount of residual oil can be 40-70 % in oil producing fields. To increase the production from off-shore fields, sea water is injected into the formations. The potential application of such polymers is to minimise water break-through during oil production by plugging zones with high water permeability in the production well. However, for near-wellbore applications on deep off-shore fields, the salinity and the temperature limit the use of many currently available water soluble polymers for enhanced oil recovery. Reduction, of water break-through is an important cost saving enterprise since the water that is produced gives problems both in weight and rinsing requirements. By incorporating cross-linkers into the polymer, gels are produced that are stable over long term ageing at high temperatures and high salinity. Based on the growing expertise in synthesis of monomers and polymers, novel water soluble polymers with high thermal stability have been developed at SINTEF in collaboration with Phillips Petroleum Company.

More info about patents developed at SINTEF Materials and Chemistry.