US 11,795,107 B2
Encapsulation of silica nanoparticle for release
Sivaprakash Shanmugam, Houston, TX (US); Peter Boul, Houston, TX (US); and Carl Thaemlitz, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Aramco Services Company, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/991,845.
Prior Publication US 2022/0048819 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 33/14 (2006.01); C04B 20/10 (2006.01); C04B 14/06 (2006.01); C04B 28/04 (2006.01); C04B 40/00 (2006.01); C01B 33/18 (2006.01); B82Y 30/00 (2011.01); B82Y 40/00 (2011.01); C04B 20/00 (2006.01)
CPC C04B 20/1037 (2013.01) [C01B 33/18 (2013.01); C04B 14/062 (2013.01); C04B 28/04 (2013.01); C04B 40/0032 (2013.01); B82Y 30/00 (2013.01); B82Y 40/00 (2013.01); C04B 20/0008 (2013.01); C04B 40/0082 (2013.01); E21B 33/14 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of using a nanosilica-containing cement in an well cementing operation, the method comprising the steps of:
mixing encapsulated nanosilica and a cement formulation to produce the nanosilica-containing cement formulation, where the encapsulated nanosilica comprises determinant nanosilica particles encapsulated by a reversible cage, where the reversible cage comprises a functional coating,
where the functional coating comprises a polyetheramine and a functional moiety selected from the group consisting of a furfuryl moiety, an anthracene moiety, a maleimide moiety, and combinations of the same,
where the reversible cage is formed through a reversible reaction selected from the group consisting of a reversible covalent reaction, a non-covalent reaction, and combinations of the same,
where the determinant nanosilica particles are selected from the group consisting of silica nanoparticles, functionalized silica nanoparticles, and combinations of the same;
pumping the nanosilica-containing cement formulation into the oil well;
increasing a temperature in the oil well to initiate the disintegration of the reversible cage, wherein the temperature is increased to greater than 130° C.;
exposing the determinant nanosilica particles due to the disintegration of the cage from the encapsulated nanosilica; and
reacting the determinant nanosilica particles with the cement formulation such that gelation of the cement formulation occurs.