(376af) Membrane-Based Controlled Release: A Useful Tool in Oilfield Operations

Oilfield operations involve the use of expensive chemicals to enhance the reservoir performance and improve hydrocarbon recovery. These chemicals are often injected into hostile downhole environment existing at high temperature, pressure, salinity, and pH. There is, therefore, a need to develop advanced techniques to protect and control the release of these chemicals so that they can be successfully delivered to targeted zones underground. It is also important to improve the efficiency of these chemicals by minimizing their consumption in order to save cost and protect the environment. A very few number of publications have appeared on this topic employing technologies in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and agrochemical industries. Controlled release of oilfield chemicals has been tested in oilfield operations such hydraulic fracturing, and surfactant delivery in enhanced oil recovery by using the chemicals in the form of microparticles and complex nanoparticles. None of these works have explored the use of membrane technology in the designing, preparation, and testing of these chemicals. Traditional types of membrane-based controlled release used in the pharmaceutical industry include diffusion-controlled, osmotically controlled, swelling-controlled and chemically controlled membrane system. This work will evaluate possible applications of these systems in oilfield applications. It will delve into the release kinetics and how various parameters that are associated with the membrane can be harnessed for applications in controlled release and delivery of oilfield chemicals. Finally, self-assembled polymers with potential for controlled-release applications will be reviewed.