Thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres as a smart plugging agent for shale gas drilling operations

Emulsifier-free poly（methyl methacrylate-styrene） [P（MMA-St）] nanospheres with an average particle size of 100 nm were synthesized in an isopropyl alcoholwater medium by a solvothermal method. Then, through radical graft copolymerization of thermo-sensitive mono- mer N-isopropylacrylamide （NIPAm） and hydrophilic monomer acrylic acid （AA） onto the surface of P（MMA- St） nanospheres at 80 ℃, a series of thermo-sensitive polymer nanospheres, named SD-SEAL with different lower critical solution temperatures （LCST）, were prepared by adjusting the mole ratio of NIPAm to AA. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size distribution, and specific surface area analysis. The temperature-sensitive behavior was studied by light transmittance tests, while the sealing performance was investigated by pressure transmission tests with Lungmachi Formation shales. The experimental results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles are sensitive to temperature and had apparent LCST values which increased with an increase in hydrophilic monomer AA. When the temperature was higher than its LCST value, SD- SEAL played a dual role of physical plugging and chemical inhibition, slowed down pressure transmission, and reduced shale permeability remarkably. The plugged layer of shale was changed to being hydrophobic, which greatly improved the shale stability

Experimental Investigation on Promoting Effect of Composite Promoting Agents on Natural Gas Hydrate Formation

An experiment on effects of composite promoting agents composed of surfactants and liquid hydrocarbons on hydrate formation was conducted and the hydrate formation temperature,pressure,induction time and rate in the presence of different composite promoting agent packages were measured.The surfactants used covered sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS),sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS) and 2-octyl sodium dodecyl sulfate(GC20S),and the liquid hydrocarbon additives utilized included cyclopentane(CP) and methyl cyclohexane(MCH).It appeared that all these combinations of composite promoting agents could promote hydrate formation.The type II hydrate formation conditions using composite promoting agents composed of CP and GC20S were the mildest and the induction time was the shortest;whereas the type H hydrates formation conditions using composite promoting agents composed of MCH and GC20S were the mildest and the induction time was also the shortest.

Nanoparticle foaming agents for major gas fields in China

The conventional foaming agents have the problems of poor adaptability and high cost during the application in different types of gas fields,especially in high temperature,high salinity,high acidic gas and high condensate oil and gas fields.In this study,the Gemini foaming agent was used as the main agent to enhance foaming and foam stability of the foaming agent,the grafted nanoparticles were used as foam stabilizer to further improve the foam stability,and the characteristic auxiliaries were added to make the foaming agent suitable for different types of gas reservoirs.Two types and six subtypes of nanoparticle foaming agents have been prepared for the main gas fields of China.The experimental evaluation results show that the overall temperature resistance,salinity resistance,H2S resistance,CO2 resistance and condensate resistance of the nanoparticle foaming agents can reach 160℃,250000 mg/L,100 mg/L,100%and 40%,respectively.The new foaming agents have been used in 8685 wells in China.Compared with conventional foaming agent,the average gas flow rate per well increased by 62.48%,the pressure difference(casing-tubing)decreased by 18.9%,and the cost dropped by 45%.The effect of reducing cost and increasing efficiency is obvious.

A Study on Inhibitors for the Prevention of Hydrate Formation in Gas Transmission Pipeline

Gas Hydrate is usually formed during the transportation and treatment of oil and gas, resulting in the plugging of gas pipeline and equipment. Three thermodynamic calculation formulas are analyzed to deal with this problem. The lowering of the freezing point of the inhibitors △T is used to calculate the formation temperature of natural gas hydrates. This is considered to be a good approach because it is not limited by what kind and what concentration of inhibitors one uses. Besides, the rate of lowering of the freezing point could be easily measured. The result of testing methanol and mono-ethylene glycol in a reactor shows that adding 10% inhibitors to the reactor can prevent the hydrates formation. Kinetic inhibitors are favored in the present research. They are divided into two types, polymer and surface-active agents. Their characteristics, mechanisms, and application prospect are separately discussed. Polymer inhibitors exhibit better efficiency. The result of field application of VC-713 inhibiter is also given in this article. In practice, the combination of thermodynamic inhibitors and kinetic inhibitors gives better result.

Ignition and Emission Characteristics of Ignition-assisting Agents for Densified Corn Stover Briquette Fuel

Ignition-assisting agents for densified corn stover briquette fuel(DCBF) were developed,and their ignition and emission characteristics were investigated using type LLA-6 household cooking stove.Three waste liquid fuels,waste engine oil(E) ,diesel oil(D) ,and industrial alcohol(A) ,were used as raw materials to make 25 ignitionassisting agents by mixing at different ratios.Their ignition performance was evaluated in terms of ignition time and cost.It was found that ignition-assisting agents ED15(a mix of E and D at volume ratio of 1︰5) and DA51(a mix of D and A at volume ratio of 5︰1) presented better ignition results with shorter ignition time(40-53 s) and lower cost(6.1 and 5.3 cents) at the dosages of 9 ml and 8 ml,respectively.The emission of O2,CO,CO2,NOx,and SO2,the temperature in fume gas,and combustion efficiency were investigated for ED15 and DA51.The results show that the emission of ED15 with the dosage of 9 ml is lower than that of DA51 with the dosage of 8 ml in the ignition process.ED15 at the dosage of 9 ml achieves satisfactory combustion efficiency and emits less pollutant,so it is recommended for practical application.The study will provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to fast ignite DCBF and break the barrier to the practical application of DCBF.

Experimental study of low-damage drilling fluid to minimize waterblocking of low-permeability gas reservoirs

This paper discusses the systematic design and development of low-damage drilling fluid to protect the low-permeability gas reservoir of the Sulige block in the Ordos Basin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Based on investigation of the geological characteristics and the potential formation damage of the Permian formation of the reservoir, waterblocking due to invasion of drilling or completion fluids was identified one of the most severe causes of damage to gas well deliverability. By adopting the phase trap prevention method, ideal packing theory, and film-forming technology, a lowdamage drilling fluid, sodium formate brine containing efficient waterblocking preventing surfactants, optimized temporary bridging agents （TBAs）, and film-forming agents has been developed. The performance of the new drilling fluid was evaluated by using a variety of techniques. The results show that the fluid has good rheological properties, good strong shale-swelling inhibition, good temporary plugging effect, ultra-low filtration, and good lubricity. It can efficiently minimize waterblocking and can be used to drill horizontal wells with minimal intervention of the reservoir in the Sulige Gas Field.

A reservoir drying method for enhancing recovery of tight gas

Based on the study of damage mechanisms of generalized water blocking and related water-blocking removal methods, the drying agents for enhancing tight gas reservoir recovery were developed, and the basic properties, injection mode and drying effect of the drying agents were evaluated. The chemical effect, thermal effect, salt resistance, salt resistance formulas and delay mechanism of the drying agent systems for different types of tight reservoirs were investigated through lab experiment. The solubility and solubilization properties of supercritical carbon dioxide on drying agent systems were tested.The injection mode of dissolving drying agent in supercritical carbon dioxide was proposed. The mechanisms of supercritical carbon dioxide with water in micropores of formation matrix were analyzed. Micro-pore structures and seepage characteristics of reservoir before and after drying were compared. Based on the characterization in combination of NMR and laser etched pore structure model, drying effects of the drying agents on bound water of different occurrences were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Lattice Boltzmann method was used to evaluate the influence of drying effect on gas micro-seepage ability.The influence of drying effect on productivity and production performance of gas well was analyzed by numerical simulation.The drying effect can greatly reduce water saturation of tight reservoir and improve the gas seepage capacity in near wellbore and fractures. This work can provide guidance for developing new measures in enhancing recovery of tight gas reservoirs.

20 ppm Anhydrous Ammonia Odor Agent Proposed for Hydrogen Fuel for Safe Detection of Leaks

Preferably 20 ppm anhydrous ammonia (NH3) is proposed to be added to hydrogen fuel (H) made from renewable energy sources (green hydrogen), so that H leaks may be easily detectable by smell, but not dangerously toxic. Including this odor agent, would allow H to be distributed safely in pipes, as required by law, and it would allow H to be safely stored, transported, and exported for sale, and widely commercialized. Further research is suggested to identify optimum pressure, temperature, and automated technique for injecting NH3 into H, and to chart the minimum concentration needed, as a function of temperature and humidity. An application to make hypersonic H burning aircraft safer for ground maintenance crews is proposed. An ability to make, store and distribute H, made from local sources of renewable energy, would reduce a need for fossil fuels, especially in poor, remote communities, where it could improve their economy by creating an export product for sale, while reducing pollution.

固相萃取及GC-MS分析环境水体中神经性毒剂水解产物

Analysis of nerve agents and their degradation products constitutes an important subject for verifying the compliance to the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC).In environmental water,the relevant degradation products of nerve agents are usually present at low concentration levels and mixed with a large amount of interferents.In this paper,six different kinds of solid-phase bulk sorbents were respectively investigated to improve the SPE efficiency for nerve agents degradation products from stimulant water samples,in which a large amount of background interferents were spiked.Results showed that the strong anion-exchange sorbent could selectively extract the spiking six target compounds from the matrices and showed a high recovery.

Histomorphological and Histochemical Alterations Following Short-term Inhalation Exposure to Sulfur Mustard on Visceral Organs of Mice

Toxic effects of inhaled sulfur mustard (SM) on the histology of visceral organs was investigaed by exposing mice to 84. 6mg/m3 for 1h duration, using controlled single exposure conditions. A progressive fall in body weight from third day onwards was noticed. Light microscopic examination of the pulmonary tissue of these animals at 6 h post exposure revealed that the tracheobronchial epithelium remained intact, but was infiltrated by inflammatory cells. By 24 h post exposure, the mucosecretory cells were destroyed. The indanunatory reaction was maximum at 48 h. By 7th day post exposure there was swelling and vacuolation of lung parenchymal cells and thrombi formation. In addition SM caused congestion and hemorrhage at alveolar level. SM also caused granulovacuolar degeneration with perinuclear clumping of the cytopasm of hepatocytes and renal parenchymal cells. Renallesions were chazacterized by congestion and hemorrhage. Among visceral tissues, maximum atrophywas observed in spleen. Distribution of lesions increased with post exposure period. The maximum lesions were observed at 7th day post-exposure.

Rheological property of low-damage,ideal packing,film-forming amphoteric/sulfonation polymer drilling fluids

Low-permeability dense reservoirs,including micro-fractured reservoirs,are commonly characterized by high content of clay substances,high original water saturation,high sensitivity to invasive fluids,high capillary pressure,complicated structure and anisotropic,high flow-resistance and micro pore throats etc,.Generally they also have lots of natural micro fractures,probably leading to stress sensibility.Main damaging factors in such reservoirs are water-sensibility and water-blocking caused by invasive fluids during drilling and production operations.Once damaged,formation permeability can rarely recovered.Numerous studies have shown that damaging extent of water-blocking ranges from 70% to 90%.Main damaging mechanisms and influencing factors of water-blocking were systematically analyzed.Also some feasible precaution or treating approaches of water-blocking were put forward.In a laboratory setting,a new multi-functional drilling fluid composed mainly of amphion polymer,sulfonation polymer,high effectively preventive water-blocking surfactants,ideal packing temporary bridging agents(TBA) and film-forming agents,etc.,were developed.New low-damage drilling fluids has many advantages,such as good rheological properties,excellent effectiveness of water-blocking prevention,good temporary plugging effect,low filtration and ultra-low permeability(API filtration≤5 mL,HTHP filtration≤10 mL,mud cake frictional coefficient≤0.14,permeability recovery>81%),can efficiently prevent or minimize damage,preserve natural formation and enhance comprehensive development-investment effect in TUHA Jurassic dense sandstone reservoir formation with low-permeability,the only one developing integrated condense gas field.Some references can be provided to similar reservoir formations.

Ultrasound contrast agents from microbubbles to biogenic gas vesicles

Microbubbles have been the earliest and most widely used ultrasound contrast agents by virtue of their unique features:such as non-toxicity,intravenous inject-ability,ability to cross the pulmonary capillary bed,and significant enhancement of echo signals for the duration of the examination,resulting in essential preclinical and clinical applications.The use of microbubbles functional-ized with targeting ligands to bind to specific targets in the bloodstream has further enabled ultrasound molecular imaging.Nevertheless,it is very challenging to utilize targeted microbubbles for molecular imaging of extra-vascular targets due to their size.A series of acoustic nanomaterials have been developed for breaking free from this constraint.Especially,biogenic gas vesicles,gas-filled protein nanostructures from microorganisms,were engineered as thefirst biomolecular ultrasound contrast agents,opening the door for more direct visual-ization of cellular and molecular function by ultrasound imaging.The ordered protein shell structure and unique gasfilling mechanism of biogenic gas vesicles endow them with excellent stability and attractive acoustic responses.What’s more,their genetic encodability enables them to act as acoustic reporter genes.This article reviews the upgrading progresses of ultrasound contrast agents from microbubbles to biogenic gas vesicles,and the opportu-nities and challenges for the commercial and clinical translation of the nascentfield of biomolecular ultrasound.

<i>In vitro</i>ruminal fermentation of leaves from three tree forages in response to incremental levels of polyethylene glycol

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a phenol binding agent has been used extensively to measure the biological activity of tannins in forage species. The optimum inclusion rate of PEG, per unit weight of sample varies from species to species. Determining optimum inclusion levels can prevent wastage and reduce the cost of diagnosing the biological activity of tannins, especially in developing countries. This study was designed to determine the optimum PEG inclusion levels required to completely ameliorate In vitro ruminal bioactivity of tannins in leaves from Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium and Trichanthera gigantea using the Reading Pressure Technique. Fermentation parameters were generated by fitting gas production data to the Orskov and McDonald (1979) non-linear equation: . An asymptotic response to incremental levels of PEG was observed with cumulative gas production at 48 h post inoculation. The minimum level of PEG required to maximize In vitro ruminal fermentation of tree leaves was found to be 200 mg PEG/g DM for all tree species. Gas production rate constant for the insoluble fraction (c) showed an increase (P In vitro organic matter degradability (iOMD) declined (P In vitro ruminal tannin biological activity in leaves of the three tree species.

Preparation of a porphyrin-polyoxometalate hybrid and its photocatalytic degradation performance for mustard gas simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide

By combining 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-chlorine)phenylporphyrin(TClPP)andα-Keggin polyoxometalate H_(5)PV_(2)Mo_(10)O_(40)(H 5 PVMo)via a simple ion-exchange method,an organic-inorganic hybrid material[C_(44)H_(28)N_(4)Cl_(4)]_(1.5)[H_(2)PMo_(10)V_(2)O_(40)]·2C_(2)H_(6)O(H_(2 )TClPP-H_(2) PVMo)was prepared and thoroughly characterized by a variety of techniques.The homogeneous photocatalytic degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide(CEES)(5μL)by H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo(1×10^(−6)mol/L)was studied in methanol and methanol-water mixed solvent(v/v=1:1),in which the degradation rate of CEES reached 99.52%and 99.14%,respectively.The reaction followed first-order reaction kinetics,and the half-life and kinetic constant in methanol and the mixed solvent were respectively 33.0min,−0.021 min−1 and 15.7min,−0.043 min−1.Mechanism analysis indicated that under visible light irradiation in the air,CEES was degraded via oxidation and alcoholysis/hydrolysis in methanol and the mixed solvent.O_(2)·−and ^(1)O_(2) generated by H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo selectively oxidized CEES into a nontoxic sulfoxide.Singlet oxygen capture experiments showed that H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo(φ=0.73)had a higher quantum yield of singlet oxygen than TClPP(φ=0.35)under an air atmosphere and visible light irradiation.

Investigation on the characteristics and mechanism of AZ80A magnesium alloy corrosion by Halon 1301 and CF_(3)I

In order to study the application of gas fire extinguishing agents in civil aircraft fire extinguishing systems,the corrosion characteristics and mechanisms of Halon 1301 and CF_(3)I on AZ80A magnesium alloy were comparatively analyzed.The experimental methods combined with density functional theory were applied to explore the corrosion mechanism.The results indicate that Halon 1301 and CF_(3)I exhibit good compatibility with AZ80A magnesium alloy through physical adsorption at room temperature and pressure,where Halon 1301 has a more stable adsorption configuration.However,with increasing temperature,pyrolysis reactions occur leading to the formation of fluorine containing corrosive substances which can react with magnesium alloy to generate the corrosion production of MgF_(2) and coke.Although MgF_(2) and coke can partically reduce reaction rates and protect against corrosion,the presence of MgF_(2) promotes further pyrolysis,generating more corrosion products.Consequently,the accumulation of corrosion products leads to a loss of metallic luster and a decline in mechanical properties of magnesium alloy along with interfacial cracking due to mutual extrusion between MgF_(2) and carbon deposition layers.These studies offer theoretical guidance for utilizing CF_(3)I in civil aircraft fire extinguishing systems while facilitating rapid screening for efficient clean gas extinguishing agents.

Continuous synthesis of extremely small-sized iron oxide nanoparticles used for T_(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging via a fluidic reactor

Extremely small-sized iron oxide nanoparticles(ESIONPs)with sizes less than 5 nm have shown great promise as T_(1)contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).However,their facile and scalable production with simultaneously endowed biocompatible surface chemistry remains difficult to be realized.In this study,by using the coprecipitation method implemented in a specially designed gas/liquid mixed phase fluidic reactor,polyglucose sorbitol carboxymethyether(PSC)coated ESIONPs were continuously synthesized with controllable particle sizes ranging from 1.8 to 4 nm.Among the differently sized ESIONPs,the 3.7-nm ESIONPs exhibit the best performance as T_(1)MRI contrast agent,featuring a high r_(1) value of 4.11(mmol L^(−1))^(−1)s^(−1)and low r_(2)/r_(1) ratio of 7.90 under a clinical 3 T MR scanning,as well as the excellent T_(1)MRI contrast effect in not only water but also the cellular environment and blood vessel.Furthermore,the ESIONPs possess long-term stability and good dispersity in aqueous dispersions,making them ideal candidates as safe and effective T_(1)-weighted MRI contrast agent for real clinical use.

Fabrication of AI foam without thickening process through melt-foaming method

By using calcium carbonate （CaCO3） powder as the blowing agent, Al foams with porosities of - 60 to 85% and pore size of - 1.5 mm were fabricated via melt-foaming method. Instead of adding a thickening agent to increase Al melt viscosity, a small amount of Mg ingot （5.0 wt%） was added first, and then A1 melt was foamed by adding calcium carbonate via the impellor stirring. The effect of Mg addition on the gas release behavior of calcium carbonate in the Al melt was investigated. The compression behavior of fabricated Al foams was examined. The results show that the blowing gas is possibly from the reaction between Mg and calcium carbonate, and this reaction can produce solid oxides with micrometer level size, which leads to increasing the Al melt viscosity and is beneficial for inhibiting pores coarsening. Besides, the micrometer level cracks in the cell walls make the strength of Al foam decrease.