Synthetic polymers:A review of applications in drilling fluids

With the growth of deep drilling and the complexity of the well profile,the requirements for a more complete and efficient exploitation of productive formations increase,which increases the risk of various complications.Currently,reagents based on modified natural polymers(which are naturally occurring compounds)and synthetic polymers(SPs)which are polymeric compounds created industrially,are widely used to prevent emerging complications in the drilling process.However,compared to modified natural polymers,SPs form a family of high-molecular-weight compounds that are fully synthesized by undergoing chemical polymerization reactions.SPs provide substantial flexibility in their design.Moreover,their size and chemical composition can be adjusted to provide properties for nearly all the functional objectives of drilling fluids.They can be classified based on chemical ingredients,type of reaction,and their responses to heating.However,some of SPs,due to their structural characteristics,have a high cost,a poor temperature and salt resistance in drilling fluids,and degradation begins when the temperature reaches 130℃.These drawbacks prevent SP use in some medium and deep wells.Thus,this review addresses the historical development,the characteristics,manufacturing methods,classification,and the applications of SPs in drilling fluids.The contributions of SPs as additives to drilling fluids to enhance rheology,filtrate generation,carrying of cuttings,fluid lubricity,and clay/shale stability are explained in detail.The mechanisms,impacts,and advances achieved when SPs are added to drilling fluids are also described.The typical challenges encountered by SPs when deployed in drilling fluids and their advantages and drawbacks are also discussed.Economic issues also impact the applications of SPs in drilling fluids.Consequently,the cost of the most relevant SPs,and the monomers used in their synthesis,are assessed.Environmental impacts of SPs when deployed in drilling fluids,and their manufacturing processes are identified,together with advances in SP-treatment methods aimed at reducing those impacts.Recommendations for required future research addressing SP property and performance gaps are provided.

Effect of fracture fluid flowback on shale microfractures using CT scanning

The field data of shale fracturing demonstrate that the flowback performance of fracturing fluid is different from that of conventional reservoirs,where the flowback rate of shale fracturing fluid is lower than that of conventional reservoirs.At the early stage of flowback,there is no single-phase flow of the liquid phase in shale,but rather a gas-water two-phase flow,such that the single-phase flow model for tight oil and gas reservoirs is not applicable.In this study,pores and microfractures are extracted based on the experimental results of computed tomography(CT)scanning,and a spatial model of microfractures is established.Then,the influence of rough microfracture surfaces on the flow is corrected using the modified cubic law,which was modified by introducing the average deviation of the microfracture height as a roughness factor to consider the influence of microfracture surface roughness.The flow in the fracture network is simulated using the modified cubic law and the lattice Boltzmann method(LBM).The results obtained demonstrate that most of the fracturing fluid is retained in the shale microfractures,which explains the low fracturing fluid flowback rate in shale hydraulic fracturing.

Effect of bubble morphology and behavior on power consumption in non-Newtonian fluids’aeration process

Due to a prolonged operation time and low mass transfer efficiency, the primary challenge in the aeration process of non-Newtonian fluids is the high energy consumption, which is closely related to the form and rate of impeller, ventilation, rheological properties and bubble morphology in the reactor. In this perspective, through optimal computational fluid dynamics models and experiments, the relationship between power consumption, volumetric mass transfer rate(kLa) and initial bubble size(d0) was constructed to establish an efficient operation mode for the aeration process of non-Newtonian fluids. It was found that reducing the d0could significantly increase the oxygen mass transfer rate, resulting in an obvious decrease in the ventilation volume and impeller speed. When d0was regulated within 2-5 mm,an optimal kLa could be achieved, and 21% of power consumption could be saved, compared to the case of bubbles with a diameter of 10 mm.

Reservoir quality evaluation of the Narimba Formation in Bass Basin,Australia:Implications from petrophysical analysis,sedimentological features,capillary pressure and wetting fluid saturation

The evaluation of reservoir quality was accomplished on the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene Narimba Formation in Bass Basin,Australia.This study involved combination methods such as petrophysical analysis,petrography and sedimentological studies,reservoir quality and fluid flow units from derivative parameters,and capillary pressure and wetting fluid saturation relationship.Textural and diagenetic features are affecting the reservoir quality.Cementation,compaction,and presence of clay minerals such as kaolinite are found to reduce the quality while dissolution and secondary porosity are noticed to improve it.It is believed that the Narimba Formation is a potential reservoir with a wide range of porosity and permeability.Porosity ranges from 3.1%to 25.4%with a mean of 15.84%,while permeability ranges between 0.01 mD and 510 mD,with a mean of 31.05 mD.Based on the heterogenous lithology,the formation has been categorized into five groups based on permeability variations.Group I showed an excellent to good quality reservoir with coarse grains.The impacts of both textural and diagenetic features improve the reservoir and producing higher reservoir quality index(RQI)and flow zone indicators(FZI)as well as mostly mega pores.The non-wetting fluid migration has the higher possibility to flow in the formation while displacement pressure recorded as zero.Group II showed a fair quality reservoir with lower petrophysical properties in macro pores.The irreducible water saturation is increasing while the textural and digenetic properties are still enhancing the reservoir quality.Group III reflects lower quality reservoir with mostly macro pores and higher displacement pressure.It may indicate smaller grain size and increasing amount of cement and clay minerals.Group IV,and V are interpreted as a poor-quality reservoir that has lower RQI and FZI.The textural and digenetic features are negatively affecting the reservoir and are leading to smaller pore size and pore throat radii(r35)values to be within the range of macro,meso-,micro-,and nano pores.The capillary displacement pressure curves of the three groups show increases reaching the maximum value of 400 psia in group V.Agreement with the classification of permeability,r35 values,and pore type can be used in identifying the quality of reservoir.

Endoscopic intramural cystogastrostomy for treatment of peripancreatic fluid collection: A viewpoint from a surgeon

Percutaneous or endoscopic drainage is the initial choice for the treatment of peripancreatic fluid collection in symptomatic patients.Endoscopic transgastric fenestration(ETGF)was first reported for the management of pancreatic pseu-docysts of 20 patients in 2008.From a surgeon’s viewpoint,ETGF is a similar procedure to cystogastrostomy in that they both produce a wide outlet orifice for the drainage of fluid and necrotic debris.ETGF can be performed at least 4 wk after the initial onset of acute pancreatitis and it has a high priority over the surgical approach.However,the surgical approach usually has a better success rate because surgical cystogastrostomy has a wider outlet(>6 cm vs 2 cm)than ETGF.However,percutaneous or endoscopic drainage,ETGF,and surgical approach offer various treatment options for peripancreatic fluid collection patients based on their conditions.

An inverse analysis of fluid flow through granular media using differentiable lattice Boltzmann method

This study presents a method for the inverse analysis of fluid flow problems.The focus is put on accurately determining boundary conditions and characterizing the physical properties of granular media,such as permeability,and fluid components,like viscosity.The primary aim is to deduce either constant pressure head or pressure profiles,given the known velocity field at a steady-state flow through a conduit containing obstacles,including walls,spheres,and grains.The lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)combined with automatic differentiation(AD)(AD-LBM)is employed,with the help of the GPU-capable Taichi programming language.A lightweight tape is used to generate gradients for the entire LBM simulation,enabling end-to-end backpropagation.Our AD-LBM approach accurately estimates the boundary conditions for complex flow paths in porous media,leading to observed steady-state velocity fields and deriving macro-scale permeability and fluid viscosity.The method demonstrates significant advantages in terms of prediction accuracy and computational efficiency,making it a powerful tool for solving inverse fluid flow problems in various applications.

Microscopic characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs and their effects on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids:A case study of the Linxing area,Ordos Basin

The Linxing area within the Ordos Basin exhibits pronounced reservoir heterogeneity and intricate micro-pore structures,rendering it susceptible to water-blocking damage during imbibition extraction.This study delved into the traits of tight sandstone reservoirs in the 8th member of the Shihezi Formation(also referred to as the He 8 Member)in the study area,as well as their effects on fracturing fluid imbibition.Utilizing experimental techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR),high-pressure mercury intrusion(HPMI),and gas adsorption,this study elucidated the reservoir characteristics and examined the factors affecting the imbibition through imbibition experiments.The findings reveal that:①The reservoir,with average porosity of 8.40%and average permeability of 0.642×10^(-3)μm^(2),consists principally of quartz,feldspar,and lithic fragments,with feldspathic litharenite serving as the primary rock type and illite as the chief clay mineral;②Nano-scale micro-pores and throats dominate the reservoir,with dissolution pores and intercrystalline pores serving as predominant pore types,exhibiting relatively high pore connectivity;③Imbibition efficiency is influenced by petrophysical properties,clay mineral content,and microscopic pore structure.Due to the heterogeneity of the tight sandstone reservoir,microscopic factors have a more significant impact on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids;④A comparative analysis shows that average pore size correlates most strongly with imbibition efficiency,followed by petrophysical properties and clay mineral content.In contrast,the pore type has minimal impact.Micropores are vital in the imbibition process,while meso-pores and macro-pores offer primary spaces for imbibition.This study offers theoretical insights and guidance for enhancing the post-fracturing production of tight sandstone reservoirs by examining the effects of these factors on the imbibition efficiency of fracturing fluids in tight sandstones.

Functional thermal fluids and their applications in battery thermal management:A comprehensive review

With the increasing requirements for fast charging and discharging,higher requirements have been put forward for the thermal management of power batteries.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop efficient heat transfer fluids.As a new type of heat transfer fluids,functional thermal fluids mainly includ-ing nanofluids(NFs)and phase change fluids(PCFs),have the advantages of high heat carrying density,high heat transfer rate,and broad operational temperature range.However,challenges that hinder their practical applications remain.In this paper,we firstly overview the classification,thermophysical prop-erties,drawbacks,and corresponding modifications of functional thermal fluids.For NFs,the high ther-mal conductivity and high convective heat transfer performance were mainly elaborated,while the stability and viscosity issues were also analyzed.And then for PCFs,the high heat carrying density was mainly elaborated,while the problems of supercooling,stability,and viscosity were also analyzed.On this basis,the composite fluids combined NFs and PCFs technology,has been summarized.Furthermore,the thermal properties of traditional fluids,NFs,PCFs,and composite fluids are compared,which proves that functional thermal fluids are a good choice to replace traditional fluids as coolants.Then,battery thermal management system(BTMS)based on functional thermal fluids is summarized in detail,and the thermal management effects and pump consumption are compared with that of water-based BTMS.Finally,the current technical challenges that parameters optimization of functional thermal fluids and structures optimization of BTMS systematically are presented.In the future,it is necessary to pay more attention to using machine learning to predict thermophysical properties of functional thermal fluids and their applications for BTMS under actual vehicle conditions.

Nonlinear dynamics of a circular curved cantilevered pipe conveying pulsating fluid based on the geometrically exact model

Due to the novel applications of flexible pipes conveying fluid in the field of soft robotics and biomedicine,the investigations on the mechanical responses of the pipes have attracted considerable attention.The fluid-structure interaction(FSI)between the pipe with a curved shape and the time-varying internal fluid flow brings a great challenge to the revelation of the dynamical behaviors of flexible pipes,especially when the pipe is highly flexible and usually undergoes large deformations.In this work,the geometrically exact model(GEM)for a curved cantilevered pipe conveying pulsating fluid is developed based on the extended Hamilton's principle.The stability of the curved pipe with three different subtended angles is examined with the consideration of steady fluid flow.Specific attention is concentrated on the large-deformation resonance of circular pipes conveying pulsating fluid,which is often encountered in practical engineering.By constructing bifurcation diagrams,oscillating shapes,phase portraits,time traces,and Poincarémaps,the dynamic responses of the curved pipe under various system parameters are revealed.The mean flow velocity of the pulsating fluid is chosen to be either subcritical or supercritical.The numerical results show that the curved pipe conveying pulsating fluid can exhibit rich dynamical behaviors,including periodic and quasi-periodic motions.It is also found that the preferred instability type of a cantilevered curved pipe conveying steady fluid is mainly in the flutter of the second mode.For a moderate value of the mass ratio,however,a third-mode flutter may occur,which is quite different from that of a straight pipe system.

The Conversion of Non-Dispersed Polymers into Low-Potassium Anti-Collapse Drilling Fluids

Different drillingfluid systems are designed according to mineral composition,lithology and wellbore stability of different strata.In the present study,the conversion of a non-dispersed polymer drillingfluid into a low potas-sium anti-collapsing drillingfluid is investigated.Since the two drillingfluids belong to completely different types,the key to this conversion is represented by new inhibitors,dispersants and water-loss agents by which a non-dispersed drillingfluid can be turned into a dispersed drillingfluid while ensuring wellbore stability and reason-able rheology(carrying sand—inhibiting cuttings dispersion).In particular,the(QYZ-1)inhibitors and(FSJSS-2)dispersants are used.The former can inhibit the hydration expansion capacity of clay,reduce the dynamic shear force and weaken the viscosity;the latter can improve the sealing effect and reduce thefiltrate loss.The results have shown that after adding a reasonable proportion of these substances(QYZ-1:FSJSS-2)to the non-dispersed polymer drillingfluid,while the apparent viscosity,plastic viscosity,structural viscosity andfluidity index under-went almost negligible changes,the dynamic plastic ratio increased,and thefiltration loss decreased significantly,thereby indicating good compatibility.According to the tests(conducted in the Leijia area),the density was 1.293 g/cm3,and after standing for 24 h,the SF(static settlement factor)was 0.51.Moreover,thefiltration loss was reduced to 4.0 mL,the rolling recovery rate reached 96.92%,with excellent plugging and anti-collapse performances.

Formation damage mechanism and control strategy of the compound function of drilling fluid and fracturing fluid in shale reservoirs

For the analysis of the formation damage caused by the compound function of drilling fluid and fracturing fluid,the prediction method for dynamic invasion depth of drilling fluid is developed considering the fracture extension due to shale minerals erosion by oil-based drilling fluid.With the evaluation for the damage of natural and hydraulic fractures caused by mechanical properties weakening of shale fracture surface,fracture closure and rock powder blocking,the formation damage pattern is proposed with consideration of the compound effect of drilling fluid and fracturing fluid.The formation damage mechanism during drilling and completion process in shale reservoir is revealed,and the protection measures are raised.The drilling fluid can deeply invade into the shale formation through natural and induced fractures,erode shale minerals and weaken the mechanical properties of shale during the drilling process.In the process of hydraulic fracturing,the compound effect of drilling fluid and fracturing fluid further weakens the mechanical properties of shale,results in fracture closure and rock powder shedding,and thus induces stress-sensitive damage and solid blocking damage of natural/hydraulic fractures.The damage can yield significant conductivity decrease of fractures,and restrict the high and stable production of shale oil and gas wells.The measures of anti-collapse and anti-blocking to accelerate the drilling of reservoir section,forming chemical membrane to prevent the weakening of the mechanical properties of shale fracture surface,strengthening the plugging of shale fracture and reducing the invasion range of drilling fluid,optimizing fracturing fluid system to protect fracture conductivity are put forward for reservoir protection.

Averaged Dynamics of Fluids near the Oscillating Interface in a Hele-Shaw Cell

The steady flow in a Hele-Shaw cell filled with fluids with a high viscosity contrast in the presence of fluid oscillations is experimentally studied.The control of oscillatory dynamics of multiphase systems with interfaces is a challenging technological problem.We consider miscible(water and glycerol)and immiscible(water and high-viscosity silicone oil PMS-1000)fluids under subsonic oscillations perpendicular to the interface.Observations show that the interface shape depends on the amplitude and frequency of oscillations.The interface is undisturbed only in the absence of oscillations.Under small amplitudes,the interface between water and glycerol widens due to mixing.When the critical amplitude is reached,the interface becomes unstable to the fingering instability:Aqueous fingers penetrate the high-viscosity glycerol and induce intensive mixing of miscible fluids and associated decay of the instability.After the disappearance of the fingers,the interface takes a U-shape in the central part of the cell.A similar effect is observed for immiscible fluids:The oscillating interface tends to bend to the side of a high-viscosity fluid.Again,when the critical amplitude is reached,the fingering instability arises at the convex interface.This paper focuses on the causes of bending of the initially undisturbed interface between miscible or immiscible fluids.For this purpose,we measure the steady flow velocity near the interface and in the bulk of a high-viscosity fluid using Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV).

Magmatic-hydrothermal Evolution and Mineralization Mechanisms of the Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)Deposit in the Zouping Volcanic Basin,Shandong Province,China:Constraints from Fluid Inclusions

The Wangjiazhuang Cu(-Mo)deposit,located within the Zouping volcanic basin in western Shandong Province,China,is unique in this area for having an economic value.In order to expound the metallogenetic characteristics of this porphyry-like hydrothermal deposit,a detailed fluid inclusion study has been conducted,employing the techniques of representative sampling,fluid inclusion petrography,microthermometry,Raman spectroscopy,LA-ICP-MS analysis of single fluid inclusions,as well as cathode fluorescence spectrometer analysis of host mineral quartz.The deposit contains mainly two types of orebodies,i.e.veinlet-dissemination-stockwork orebodies in the K-Si alteration zone and pegmatiticquartz sulfide veins above them.In addition,minor breccia ore occurs locally.Four types of fluid inclusions in the deposit and altered quartz monzonite are identified:L-type one-or two-phase aqueous inclusions,V-type vapor-rich inclusions with V/L ratios greater than 50%-90%,D-type multiphase fluid inclusions containing daughter minerals or solids and S-type silicate-bearing fluid inclusions containing mainly muscovite and biotite.Ore petrography and fluid inclusion study has revealed a three-stage mineralization process,driven by magmatic-hydrothermal fluid activity,as follows.Initially,a hydrothermal fluid,separated from the parent magma,infiltrated into the quartz monzonite,resulting in its extensive K-Si alteration,as indicated by silicate-bearing fluid inclusions trapped in altered quartz monzonite.This is followed by the early mineralization,the formation of quartz veinlets and dissemination-stockwork ores.During the main mineralization stage,due to the participation and mixing of meteoric groundwater with magmatic-sourced hydrothermal fluid,the cooling and phase separation caused deposition of metals from the hydrothermal fluids.As a result,the pegmatitic-quartz sulfide-vein ores formed.In the late mineralization stage,decreasing fluid salinity led to the formation of L-type aqueous inclusions and chalcopyrite-sulfosalt ore.Coexistence of V-type and D-type inclusions and their similar homogenization temperatures with different homogenization modes suggest that phase separation or boiling of the ore-forming fluids took place during the early and the main mineralization stages.The formation P-T conditions of S-type inclusions and the early and the main mineralization stages were estimated as ca.156-182 MPa and 450-650℃,350-450℃,18-35 MPa and 280-380℃,8-15 MPa,respectively,based on the microthermometric data of the fluid inclusions formed at the individual stages.

Towards implementation of alloy-specific thermo-fluid modelling for laser powder-bed fusion of Mg alloys

Multi-physics thermo-fluid modeling has been extensively used as an approach to understand melt pool dynamics and defect formation as well as optimizing the process-related parameters of laser powder-bed fusion(L-PBF).However,its capabilities for being implemented as a reliable tool for material design,where minor changes in material-related parameters must be accurately captured,is still in question.In the present research,first,a thermo-fluid computational fluid dynamics(CFD)model is developed and validated against experimental data.Considering the predicted material properties of the pure Mg and commercial ZK60 and WE43 Mg alloys,parametric studies are done attempting to elucidate how the difference in some of the material properties,i.e.,saturated vapor pressure,viscosity,and solidification range,can influence the melt pool dynamics.It is found that a higher saturated vapor pressure,associated with the ZK60 alloy,leads to a deeper unstable keyhole,increasing the keyhole-induced porosity and evaporation mass loss.Higher viscosity and wider solidification range can increase the non-uniformity of temperature and velocity distribution on the keyhole walls,resulting in increased keyhole instability and formation of defects.Finally,the WE43 alloy showed the best behavior in terms of defect formation and evaporation mass loss,providing theoretical support to the extensive use of this alloy in L-PBF.In summary,this study suggests an approach to investigate the effect of materials-related parameters on L-PBF melting and solidification,which can be extremely helpful for future design of new alloys suitable for L-PBF.

Evolution of Diagenetic Fluid of the Dawsonite-Bearing Sandstone in the Jiyang Depression,Eastern China

Based on the petrology,isotope geochemistry and fluid inclusions analysis,we established the evolutionary mode of the diagenetic fluid of dawsonite-bearing sandstone in the Jiyang Depression.Dawsonite-bearing sandstone is characterized by double injection of CO_(2)and oil-gas in the Jiyang Depression that have experienced a relatively complex diagenetic fluid evolution process.The diagenetic sequence of secondary minerals involves secondary enlargement of quartz,kaolinite,first-stage calcite,dawsonite,second-stage calcite,ferrocalcite,dolomite and ankerite.Hydrocarbon charging in the dawsonite-bearing sandstone occurred at around 2.6–0 Myr.The CO_(2)charging event occurred during Dongying tectonism,forming the Pingfangwang CO_(2)gas reservoir,which provided an abundant carbon source for dawsonite precipitation.Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of dawsonite demonstrate that CO_(2)forming the dawsonite was of an inorganic origin derived from the mantle,and that water mediating the proc-ess during dawsonite precipitation was sequestered brine with a fluid temperature of 82℃.The evolutionary sequence of the diagenetic fluid in the dawsonite-bearing sandstone was:alkaline syngenetic fluids,weak alkaline fluids during organic acid forma-tion,acidic fluids in the early stage of CO_(2)injection,alkaline fluids in the late stage of CO_(2)injection,and weak alkaline fluids during oil and gas charging.The mode indicates an increase in-HCO_(3)because of the CO_(2)injection,and the loss of Ca^(2+)and Mg^(2+)due to the precipitation of carbonate minerals.Therefore,the evolutionary mode of diagenetic fluids is in good agreement with high HCO_(3)^(-),low Ca^(2+)and low Mg^(2+)composition of the present formation water in the dawsonite-bearing sandstone.

A micro-crosslinked amphoteric hydrophobic association copolymer as high temperature-and salt-resistance fluid loss reducer for water-based drilling fluids

During ultradeep oil and gas drilling,fluid loss reducers are highly important for water-based drilling fluids,while preparing high temperature-and salt-resistance fluid loss reducers with excellent rheology and filtration performance remains a challenge.Herein,a micro-crosslinked amphoteric hydrophobic association copolymer(i.e.,DADC)was synthesized using N,N-dimethyl acrylamide,diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid,hydrophobic monomer,and pentaerythritol triallyl ether crosslinker.Due to the synergistic effects of hydrogen bonds,electrostatic interaction,hydrophobic association,and micro-crosslinking,the DADC copolymer exhibited outstanding temperature-and salt-resistance.The rheological experiments have shown that the DADC copolymer had excellent shear dilution performance and a certain degree of salt-responsive viscosity-increasing performance.The DADC copolymer could effectively adsorb on the surface of bentonite particles through electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds,which bring more negative charge to the bentonite,thus improving the hydration and dispersion of bentonite particles as well as the colloidal stability of the drilling fluids.Moreover,the drilling fluids constructed based on the DADC copolymer exhibited satisfactory rheological and filtration properties(FLHTHP=12 m L)after aging at high temperatures(up to200℃)and high salinity(saturated salt)environments.Therefore,this work provided new insights into designing and fabricating high-performance drilling fluid treatment agents,demonstrating good potential applications in deep and ultradeep drilling engineering.

Experimental investigation on fluid-induced slip behavior of fault filled with fault gouge

Fault zones are usually filled with fault gouge and accompanied by fault water.The coupled effect of fault gouge and water significantly impacts the slip behavior of the fault,which may weaken the fault structure and further induce rupture propagation and earthquakes.In this study,we carried out a laboratory experiment to investigate the fluid-induced slip behavior of fault filled with gouge.The friction evolution characteristic associated with fluid pressure and effective stress was investigated during the slip process.In addition,the role transformation process of the gouge on the slip behavior of fault was revealed.The experimental result indicates that the friction on the filled fault surface is significantly affected by fault gouge.The rupture of the gouge promotes fault slip and the fluid pressure plays a vital role in the initiation of fault slip.The fault gouge enhances the shearing strength of the fault and acts as a barrier before the initial slip under fluid injection.Nevertheless,the fault gouge would accelerate the fault slip and transform into lubricant after the initial slip.

A novel responsive stabilizing Janus nanosilica as a nanoplugging agent in water-based drilling fluids for exploiting hostile shale environments

Thermo-responsive nanocomposites have recently emerged as potential nanoplugging agents for shale stabilization in high-temperature water-based drilling fluids(WBDFs). However, their inhibitory properties have not been very effective in high-temperature drilling operations. Thermo-responsive Janus nanocomposites are expected to strongly interact with clay particles from the inward hemisphere of nanomaterials, which drive the establishment of a tighter hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface at the outward hemisphere under geothermal conditions for shale stabilization. This work combines the synergistic benefits of thermo-responsive and zwitterionic nanomaterials to synchronously enhance the chemical inhibitions and plugging performances in shale under harsh conditions. A novel thermoresponsive Janus nanosilica(TRJS) exhibiting zwitterionic character was synthesized, characterized,and assessed as shale stabilizer for WBDFs at high temperatures. Compared to pristine nanosilica(Si NP)and symmetrical thermo-responsive nanosilica(TRS), TRJS exhibited anti-polyelectrolyte behaviour, in which electrolyte ions screened the electrostatic attraction between the charged particles, potentially stabilizing nanomaterial in hostile shaly environments(i.e., up to saturated brine or API brine). Macroscopically, TRJS exhibited higher chemical inhibition than Si NP and TRS in brine, prompting a better capability to control pressure penetration. TRJS adsorbed onto the clay surface via chemisorption and hydrogen bonding, and the interactions became substantial in brine, according to the results of electrophoretic mobility, surface wettability, and X-ray diffraction. Thus, contributing to the firm trapping of TRJS into the nanopore structure of the shale, triggering the formation of a tight hydrophobic membrane over the shale surface from the outward hemisphere. The addition of TRJS into WBDF had no deleterious effect on fluid properties after hot-treatment at 190℃, implying that TRJS could find potential use as a shale stabilizer in WBDFs in hostile environments.

Application of fluid modulus inversion to complex lithology reservoirs in deep-water areas

It has been a challenge to distinguish between seismic anomalies caused by complex lithology and hydrocarbon reservoirs using conventional fluid identification techniques,leading to difficulties in accurately predicting hydrocarbon-bearing properties and determining oil-water contacts in reservoirs.In this study,we built a petrophysical model tailored to the deep-water area of the Baiyun Sag in the eastern South China Sea based on seismic data and explored the feasibility of the tri-parameter direct inversion method in the fluid identification of complex lithology reservoirs,offering a more precise alternative to conventional techniques.Our research found that the fluid modulus can successfully eliminate seismic amplitude anomalies caused by lithological variations.Furthermore,the seismic databased direct inversion for fluid modulus can remove the cumulative errors caused by indirect inversion and the influence of porosity.We discovered that traditional methods using seismic amplitude anomalies were ineffective in detecting fluids,determining gas-water contacts,or delineating high-quality reservoirs.However,the fluid factor Kf,derived from solid-liquid decoupling,proved to be sensitive to the identification of hydrocarbon-bearing properties,distinguishing between high-quality and poor-quality gas zones.Our findings confirm the value of the fluid modulus in fluid identification and demonstrate that the tri-parameter direct inversion method can significantly enhance hydrocarbon exploration in deep-water areas,reducing associated risks.

Elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content in the Achilles tendon contribute to higher intratendinous pressures:Implications for Achilles tendinopathy

Background:Tendinopathy alters the compositional properties of the Achilles tendon by increasing fluid and glycosaminoglycan content.It has been speculated that these changes may affect intratendinous pressure,but the extent of this relationship remains unclear.Therefore,we aimed to investigate the impact of elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content on Achilles tendon intratendinous pressure and to determine whether hyaluronidase(HYAL) therapy can intervene in this potential relationship.Methods:Twenty paired fresh-frozen cadaveric Achilles tendons were mounted in a tensile-testing machine and loaded up to 5% strain.Intratendinous resting(at 0% strain) and dynamic pressure(at 5% strain) were assessed using the microcapillary infusion technique.First,intratendinous pressure was measured under native conditions before and after infusion of 2 mL physiological saline.Next,80 mg of glycosaminoglycans were administered bilaterally to the paired tendons.The right tendons were additionally treated with 1500 units of HYAL.Finally,both groups were retested,and the glycosaminoglycan content was analyzed.Results:It was found that both elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content resulted in higher intratendinous resting and dynamic pressures(p <0.001).HYAL treatment induced a 2.3-fold reduction in glycosaminoglycan content(p=0.002) and restored intratendinous pressures.Conclusion:The results of this study demonstrated that elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content in Achilles tendinopathy contribute to increased intratendinous re sting and dynamic pressures,which can be explained by the associated increased volume and reduced permeability of the tendon matrix,respectively.HYAL degrades glycosaminoglycans sufficiently to lower intratendinous pressures and may,therefore,serve as a promising treatment.