Paper Number
GN28 

Session
Gels and Networks

Title
Organogels that degrade slowly at high temperature: A solution to the ‘lost circulation’ problem in oil well drilling

Presentation Date and Time
October 15, 2024 (Tuesday) 2:50

Track / Room
Track 1 / Waterloo 3

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

  1. Raghavan, Srinivasa R. (University of Maryland)
  2. Burni, Faraz A. (University of Maryland, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Srinivasa R. Raghavan1 and Faraz A. Burni2
1University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740; 2Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20910

Speaker / Presenter 
Raghavan, Srinivasa R.

Keywords
experimental methods; colloids; gels; networks; real-world rheology; sustainability

Text of Abstract
Gels are used in various applications, including oil drilling, where organogels serve as solid plugs in fractures within oil-bearing rock. These gels must eventually liquefy to enable oil extraction. Traditionally, this degradation requires external agents or stimuli. Here, we present self-degrading organogels based on molecular organogelators that require no external triggers. These gels are strong and robust initially, then spontaneously degrade into a sol after a predetermined time, ranging from hours to days. This property is achieved by combining (1,3:2,4)-dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) with an organic acid (e.g., hexanoic acid) in an organic solvent. DBS self-assembles into a 3-D network, gelling the solvent. A 1% DBS concentration forms a robust gel (G' > 10 kPa) that can be handled as a solid. Notably, as the gel degrades, its rheological properties remain unchanged. The modulus stays constant due to solvent expulsion, maintaining a consistent network density. NMR and mass spectrometry reveal that the acid undergoes esterification with the alcohol groups, converting DBS into a non-gelling molecule. Self-degrading DBS gels with a pre-programmed 'degradation clock' can be made in both polar and non-polar solvents, offering wide-ranging applications. This approach could revolutionize oil recovery by making the process safer, more efficient, and sustainable due to reduced drilling fluid consumption.