Development of thermotropic water-based gelling compositions to reinforce rock and prevent liquid and steam breakthroughs
L. K. ALTUNINA, L. A. STASYEVA, V. A. KUVSHINOV, V. V. KOZLOV, I. V. KUVSHINOV
Institute of Petroleum Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: thermotropic inorganic and polymer gels, rock reinforcement, waterproofing, plugging, steam breakthroughs, mines, oil mines
Abstract
The article presents the results of laboratory studies and pilot tests of compositions developed to eliminate steam and water breakthroughs from the rock mass into oil mine workings, and to fill voids in the rock mass in places where steam breakthroughs occur. The effect of individual components is investigated, which allows combining them to achieve the required properties of the composition. Laboratory studies have shown a high efficiency of compositions with two gelling components (polymer and inorganic) with the addition of a dispersed filler - basalt fibre. The compositions functions well within a wide temperature range (20-200 °C), are non-toxic and fireproof. Pilot tests of the developed composition for blocking steam breakthroughs into the mine were carried out in early 2024 at an experimental site of the Yaregskoye oil mine, using standard equipment available at the mine. The tests have shown applicability of the composition under oil mine conditions. The results of control observations show that the composition successfully plugs cracks and pores in the rock and in the concrete jacket, blocks steam breakthroughs, and retains its properties for a long time. It is planned to develop this area of experimental work, including refining the technology of injecting the composition to fill large voids, to determine the required composition volume, injection rate and location of injection points. In the future, it planned to test these compositions for surface steam injection wells.
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